FROEHLICH Fr. CANICE, OFM Cap. Fr. Canice Froehlich, senior friar of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of S. Conrad, quietly passed away Wednesday evening, July 29, 2015, at Via Christi Village in Hays, just three weeks short of his 95th birthday. Born on Aug. 19, 1920, in Pittsburgh, PA, Father was the son of George l. and Matilda (Bottner) Froehlich, and the youngest of two children. After graduating from St. Fidelis College and Seminary in Herman, PA in 1940, he entered the Capuchin novitiate at Cumberland, MD and made first profession of vows the next year. Following two years of philosophy studies in Victoria, KS and four years of theology in Washington, DC, he was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 11, 1947, by Bishop John McNamara, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore- Washington. Playfully nicknamed "Roughhouse" by his seminary classmates, Fr. Canice was anything but that. Throughout his 74 years as a Capuchin and 68 as a priest, he was widely known as a humble, gentle, compassionate, and quiet priest, whose first interest was the spiritual life. After ordination, Father earned a Master's degree in library science at Catholic University of America and spent 19 years as librarian and faculty member at St. Joseph's Military Academy, Hays, KS. When the school merged with St. Francis Seminary of Victoria in 1970 and became Thomas More Prep, Canice started and for two years directed the Priesthood- Brotherhood program to nurture young vocations. During most of his years as a priest, he served as a gifted confessor and excellent spiritual director. Along with Fr. Simon Conrad who died at the age of 92 in 2013, he spent 34 years as a downtown confessor in St. Louis, 17 years at the Alverne Hotel and Public Chapel, and 17 at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church. After his assignment to St. Joseph's Friary in Hays in 2008, Father began a special evangelization project involving an extensive greetings card apostolate. Scores of people received personal messages from him on special days in their lives. Besides his Capuchin brothers, Father is survived by seven nephews and nieces: Capuchin Fr. Jim Froehlich of Washington, DC, Mary Ann Moore, Jeanne Graff, Lawrence Froehlich, Clare Froehlich-Walk and Carol Succop, all of Pittsburgh, and George Froehlich of Beverly Hills, FL. A wake is scheduled Sunday evening, 7-9 p.m., in St. Fidelis Basilica, Victoria, where the Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, in the same basilica, led by Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Salina, KS. Interment will be in Pittsburgh. Visitation at Saint Augustine Friary, 36th Street, Lawrenceville, on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Interment to follow in St. Augustine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Augustine Province. Professional services trusted to D'ALESSANDRO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, LTD., Lawrenceville. www.dalessandroltd.com Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb