Thaddeus Todd FRYDRYCH

8 DEC 1920 - 10 NOV 1980

• BIRTH: 8 DEC 1920, South Bend, St Joseph, IN
• DEATH: 10 NOV 1980, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

INDEX

[N33625] Thaddeus Todd Frydrych

Birth 8 Dec 1920
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN

Death 10 Nov 1980 (aged 59)
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN

Burial
Saint Joseph Cemetery
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN
Plot P.C. 6 lot 122
Memorial ID 183729881

From the SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, November 11, 1980:

Mother, son die in blaze at home

Fire officials have linked a malfunction in fuse box wiring with a fire in a West Side home Monday afternoon that claimed the lives of a mother and son. Dead from carbon monoxide poisoning are Thaddeus (Todd) Frydrych, 58. and his mother Anna (Fisher) Frydrych, 90. Rescue workers discovered the bodies in sitting positions in the living room of the home at 1301 W. Grace. Fire officials said Frydrych was sitting on a couch along the east side of the house, just two feet from the front door, while Mrs. Frydrych was sitting in an easy chair on the opposite side of the room. Battalion Chief John Szucs said, "The bodies were badly burned. The man's shirt was burned off and the face of the woman was badly burned. The odd thing Is that the man was just two feet from the door and no attempt was made to get out of the house," he added.
Neighbors, however, said Mrs. Frydrych did try to get out. Watkins Parker, 71, of 1302 Grace, said, "I tried to get Grandma out but she said, 'I have to get Todd. I have to get Todd.' All of a sudden there was an explosion and the whole living room was full of smoke." When asked about these reports, Szucs said fire department personnel were not able to confirm them. There were contradicting reports about whether an explosion occurred. Fire Investigator Louis Jonas said there did not appear to be an explosion. With an excessive amount of electricity being channeled through the malfunctioning wiring, Jonas said, loud popping noises could have been mistaken for an explosion. Jonas, who investigated the blaze with police Sgts. Larry Randt and Donald Miller, said the three agreed that flames erupted from malfunctioning wiring of a fuse box in a utility room at the northeast rear of the home. City Police Detective Sgt. Ronald Ingle, who saw the smoke approximately 10 blocks away said, "After calling in the fire I ran up to the house because a neighbor said someone might be home. I banged and banged on the door, but it was locked. At that time the whole back of the house was engulfed in flames."
Dr. Stanley Koscielski, county coroner, pronounced the two dead at the scene shortly after 4 p.m. Autopsies conducted Monday night at Memorial Hospital revealed that the Frydrychs died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Koscielski said the poisoning could come right from smoke inhalation. Koscielski explained, "We don't know if the victims died from oil fumes before the fire started. That doesn't show up in our blood level test. However, monoxide levels within the blood were tested and found excessive." Koscielski pointed out, "The victims suffered first- and second-degree burns over the upper half of their bodies. A full-body X-ray revealed that no foul play was involved." Fire officials were on the scene two minutes after receiving the call and brought the fire under control within 25 minutes. Szucs said, "We could see the smoke from the fire station. It had to start very quickly. When we reached the scene the whole house was engulfed in flames." Ingle said, "Black smoke poured out into the streets, the windows were blown away, and even a tree was ignited on the east side of the house." He continued, "The fire started at the back of the house in a utility shed where two 55-gallon oil drums are stored, but moved quickly, destroying the entire house." Fire officials estimated damages at $8,000 to the house and $2,000 to the contents. Szucs explained, "The house has three oil space heaters in the kitchen, living room, and utility shed. The heaters are fueled by the oil drums . . .but when the fire ruptured the copper tube that runs from the oil drum to the space heaters, it caused an explosion and escalated the fire." He said, "Neighbors also reported hearing an explosion." When asked if the victims could have died from oil fumes Szucs said, "If the carburetor on the heaters is not set right, then the heaters could give off carbon monoxide. Also if the flue is filled with soot, then it could compound the trouble." Mrs. Frydrych was born on July 19, 1890, in Poland, and had lived in South Bend most of her life. Her husband, John, died on March 19, 1959. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Chrobot of South Bend; six grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Jean Golubski of South Bend; and a brother, Edward Sobieralski of Niles. Her son was a former Studebaker Corp. employee and recently had worked for the County Highway Department. Born on Dec. 8, 1921, in South Bend, he had lived here all his life. He is survived by a son, Barry of Osceola ; two stepsons, Theodore and Ralph Szalewski of South Bend; a grandson; and a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Chrobot of South Bend. He was a World War II veteran.

[Information submitted by Find a Grave contributor Paul #48889809]

Family Members
Parents

John Chester Frydrych
1890-1959

Anna Sobieralski Frydrych
1890-1980

Spouse

Joan J. Winicki Frydrych
1914-1975