Mara B. (Cassidy) Frey, 87, joined the choir of heavenly angels on Thursday, October 5, 2017. Mara was born on September 22, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio, to John Milo and Evangeline Ellen (Ward) Cassidy. She graduated from Rosary High School in 1949 and married her life-long partner Donald Edward Frey in 1953.

Mara is preceded in death by her parents John Milo and Evangeline Ellen (Ward) Cassidy; daughter Karen Marie (Frey) Yoder; son William Robert Frey; sisters Patricia Ann (Cassidy) Hinton, Geraldine Mae (Cassidy) Felker; and brothers Bernard Joseph, Francis Patrick, George Michael, Paul Harry, and Dennis Edward Cassidy.

She is survived by her husband and teammate of more than 63 years, Donald Edward Frey; sons Donald Edward, II of Cumming, GA, Edward Charles of Johnstown, OH, Thomas Patrick (Bobbi) of Delaware, OH, Jeffrey Joseph (Stephanie) of Burr Oak, OH, and Daniel Eugene (Angela) of Burr Oak, OH; brother John Milo Cassidy, Jr. of Louisville, KY; and sister Margaret Loretta Cassidy of Rockland, MA.   

Mara had 26 grandchildren including: Celeste (Aaron) Deck; Anna Frey; Donald (Carol) Frey, III; Mitchell Frey; Joseph Frey; Lynette Frey; Rebecca (Michael) Rush; Darrel (Angie) Yoder, II; Shaun Yoder; Amber (Brian) Smith; Nicholas Yoder; Ian Yoder; Madison Yoder; Lauren Frey; Brittany Frey; Joshua (Lindy) Frey; Kristopher (Cheryl) Larcom; Matthew Larcom; Nichol (Shawn) Eavenson; William Frey, II; Jeffrey Frey, II; Desiree Davis-Clark; Michael Frey; Jacob Frey; Jessica Frey; and William Frey.

She was blessed with 16 great-grandchildren including: Samuel Yoder; Josephine Yoder; Trevor Hughes-Smith; Garrett Smith; Colton Smith; Maddilyn Mullen; Mara Frey; Elizabeth Larcom; Gillian Larcom; Sidney Eavenson; Charlie Frey; Josie Frey; Anthony Clark, III; Dashan Clark; Amya Clark; and Amelia Frey.

Mara was the family matriarch—family was her focus. Additionally, she and Don enjoyed gardening (particularly roses) and faithfully giving back to the community. For nearly two decades, the couple volunteered for the Delaware County Meals On Wheels program. During the summer months, they delivered meals with bouquets of roses cut from their garden by Don and arranged by Mara. When a local newspaper featured their volunteer work, Mara humbly shared, “It is done for the love of God and our neighbor. We get more out of volunteering than anyone we serve. We do it because of how very much we have been blessed.”

Calling hours are Sunday, October 8, from 2:00-5:00PM at Egan Ryan Northwest Chapel, 4661 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH. A full funeral mass will occur on Monday, October 9 at 10:30AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 82 E. William Street, Delaware, OH. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). The family gives special thanks to the clergy, residents, and staff of the Villas at Saint Therese, where Mara resided for the last several years.  

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