Dolores Warwick Frese

 Professor Frese's funeral will be livestreamed at http://funerals.holycrossusa.org/

Dolores Warwick Frese passed from this life on May 30, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

Dolores was a world-renowned medievalist, who taught English at the University of Notre Dame for 42 years.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Judge John Jerome Frese.  She is also survived by her 3 sons who adored her: Paul (Lisa) Sean (Jamie) and Matthew (Dawn) Frese.  Dolores is also survived by her sister, Ginny Lacey, brother-in-law Dale Lacey, brother John Charles "Chiz" Warwick; and brothers-in-law Joe and Jim Frese.  She also had many loving nieces and nephews, who are celebrating her life, and mourning her loss.  She was preceded to heaven by her parents, Charles Carroll Warwick and Mary Keeler Warwick; and sisters Mary Jean Whittaker, and Peggy Warwick - Sr. Helene De Jesus, P.S.D.P (Little Sisters of the Poor); and  brothers William Daniel "Dan" Warwick and Floyd Warwick, FSC. 

 Her Grandfather, Rev. Floyd Keeler, co-officiated  at her wedding Mass in 1958 in Baltimore.

 Dolores Mary Warwick was born April 9, 1936 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the fifth of seven children. 

 Her family moved to Baltimore, where she attended Seton High School, and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  After marrying on September 6, 1958; Dolores and Jerry Frese packed up and moved to Iowa City, Iowa to earn their PHD degrees at the Writer's Workshop.  They were  blessed with the birth of their son Paul in the first year of their marriage.  In the midst of their studies, they went to Dublin, Ireland where Jerry attended Trinity College, to earn his Master's Degree in English. While in Dublin, their son Sean was born.  They returned to Iowa City to complete their PHD studies.  In 1965, they moved to Chicago, where Jerry taught English and grew in his career at the University of Chicago.  Son Matthew was born in 1968 in Chicago.  Later in 1968, the Freses moved back to Iowa.  Dolores finished her PHD at the University of Iowa, and was hired as one of the first female professors at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend in 1973.  In her 42 year career at Notre Dame, Dolores was one of the world's pre-eminent scholars of Medieval English, with a specialty in Chaucer.  Throughout her career, she published 2 novels, many short stories and volumes of poetry, as well as countless scholarly articles and studies.  She also added an additional Masters Degree in Theology later in her career from Notre Dame; as well as intensive studies in Latin.  As Dolores' career progressed, Jerry's educational and professional endeavors also progressed.  He graduated Notre Dame Law School in 1975.  After some private practice, Jerry built his legal career in the U.S. Attorney's offices in Chicago and South Bend.  Dolores was always immensely supportive of Jerry's endeavors, and he was equally supportive of hers.  After several years with the U.S. Attorney's office, Jerry was appointed a Superior Court Judge for St. Joseph County.  He retired from that position after 30 years; and enjoyed a wonderful and well deserved retirement with his loving wife.

 Dolores will be missed by the thousands of wonderful students she taught; many of whom have gone on to great careers of their own in education.  She will especially be missed by her loving family, who always came first in her life.  Dolores always put her faith first, with daily prayers and daily mass, whenever possible.  We know that she is already enjoying her greatest reward in Heaven, where she eagerly awaits her loved ones.

 Hers was unquestionably a life well lived.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 2024 in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.  Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m.

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