Regina Adelaide Mayer

Dates

Obituary

Regina Adelaide Friedrich Mayer,106, passed away Monday, September 9, 2024, in Baltimore, MD. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Friday, November 8, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Regina was born July 20, 1918, on a farm near Parkston, SD, she was the youngest of

eleven children in the Joseph and Adelheid (Ruettgers) Friedrich family.

How does one even begin to describe such an amazing woman who lived to be 106! In a few

words, she was a woman ahead of her time, defying expectations of a wife and mother.

Mother of eight children, Adelaide managed a household as well as a successful family

business, City Printers. She and husband Lawrence B. Mayer equally shared roles and

responsibilities, setting an example for all, but for their four daughters and four sons foremost.

Of strong German heritage, Adelaide was a woman of conviction and purpose. Smart and

incredibly well-read, she kept abreast of news and current events, local, state and national.

Almost to the very end, her special daily passion was watching the PBS News Hour.

Engaging, never hesitant to express an opinion, Adelaide could firmly but gently take issue with

one’s point of view, or behavior for that matter. Still, for all her adherence to principle and

decorum, she was compassionate, understanding, and above all kind and loving.

Adelaide was a woman of strong faith and truly enjoyed life, especially time with her children,

grandchildren (21) and great grandchildren (38). They were thrilled to be with her, too,

particularly if it involved a game of cards or Scrabble, the latter she invariably won with an

obscure two-letter word, one being “q.”

She was an excellent seamstress, and late in life, worked at G.F. Buche Co. in Mitchell,

assisting customers in buying fabrics and patterns. She loved to shop herself, for scarves and

hats in particular, always interested in the latest fashion and stylishly dressed.

While not without hardship, her life was well lived. No regrets. Well, perhaps one or two.

After seeing a film about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Adelaide remarked,

“I should have been a lawyer.” She had also expressed an interest in going to college. She

embodied the ideal that ordinary people are capable of the extraordinary.

Her marriage to Larry, their 35 years together and the joy of their children, grandchildren and

now great grandchildren, all of this is nothing short of extraordinary. They met in a Parkston

cafe. He had just arrived from Ipswich to work at the Parkston Advance as a columnist and

printer. The year was 1941. They were married on October 9 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

In time, they settled in Mitchell, where Larry and a colleague started City Printers. Adelaide

worked at the shop. In 1960, Larry and Adelaide became sole proprietors. In 1967, City Printers

merged with Mitchell Printing. Adelaide left and went to work at G.F. Buche Co. Larry remained

with Mitchell Printing, in charge of production. He retired due to poor health in 1972. With more

time together, they traveled, visiting their children. On April 23, 1976, he died of cancer at 65.

When she lived in Mitchell, a small, decorative plate hung on a kitchen wall with the following

inscription: This is my house and I do as I darn please. The same is true of the life she lived.

That became abundantly clear at a family wedding in Annapolis, Maryland on April 16, 2016.

To everyone’s surprise, she decided not to return home to Mitchell. Rather, she chose to remain

in Baltimore and reside with her daughter Martha. Adelaide’s eldest son, James, also was living

near Baltimore. The wedding in Annapolis was that of his son, Jeff, and Rachael Caruso.

Alone in Mitchell, she had outlived many of her friends and family members. She wanted more

in the remaining years of her life. Her decision to do as she pleased and live in Baltimore was

probably the best thing for her, adding years to her life.

Adelaide spent her remaining years visiting museums and art galleries, attending concerts,

dining in restaurants, the Marie Louise Bistro was her favorite. With house cat sweet Alice her

constant companion, she read, worked puzzles, and napped. Refreshed, she would visit

restaurants managed by Martha’s husband, Paul Dougherty. Once there, she would arrange

flower settings. Nobody did it better.

A member of Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in Baltimore, she regularly attended Sunday Mass

when able. Sag Harbor vacations also proved good for the soul. Best of all by far was time

spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren in the Baltimore area.

Adelaide is survived by her eight children: Martha (Paul) Dougherty, Jim (Susan) Mayer, Paula

(Bob) Giesey, Joy (Dick) Jones, Jeanne (Al) Johnson, Steve (Linda) Mayer, Gregg (Suzanne)

Mayer, and Joe (Karen) Mayer; 21 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 siblings, husband Lawrence Bernard Mayer and

granddaughter Katharine Jordan Kaplan.

The family wishes to thank all who cared for Adelaide at Stella Maris in Lutherville-Timonium,

hospice nurse Lisa Ballard in particular. Special thanks as well to Karen DeHart, her Stella

Maris roommate, a great source of comfort, one to another, in their 18 months together.

A final note: Adelaide enjoyed dining by candlelight, and at evening’s end, she delighted in

blowing out the candles. Taking one in hand, she would draw hearts, circles, whatever came to

mind, with the smoke ascending from the extinguished flame.

Blow out your candle, Adelaide, and ascend to your new home in heaven, for surely this is

pleasing to God.

Service

Cemetery