Elfriede passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, September 6, 2019. Elfriede was born on a Wednesday in a small village in Germany in July 1925. She met her husband while working for the U.S. Military in their kitchen during WWII. They married in Germany and Elfriede later came to the United States with her daughter, Elke, by boat in 1950 via the port of New York. Elfriede came to this country with a small child, without knowing how to speak the language, and took care of her husband's affairs while he was still in active deployment with the U.S. Military. She taught herself how to speak English by watching television and listening to the radio. Elfriede learned how to navigate in a new country without anyone by her side and made a home for her husband to return to when his active deployment was over. Once George returned from active deployment it was the life of a military wife and family…lots of moves, and transitions along the way. Their family grew with 3 more additions and Elfriede became a citizen of the United States in January of 1955. Later, George and Elfriede settled in Fort Wayne when George retired from the military. This is where their family grew and blossomed. Elfriede was a wife, mother, and homemaker. She always had an open door policy at her home to family and friends…and never really knew a stranger. You were generally greeted with a cup of coffee or her famous sweet tea if you visited her home. Elfriede was kind, compassionate, loving, funny, and if she loved you it was with her whole heart. She was the matriarch of her family and guided all of them with wisdom, compassion, empathy, sympathy, kindness, courage, and love. She was a role model of how a person should live their life…as she lived hers, with grace and dignity. She cared for her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was the slayer of monsters and kisser of boo boos.

Elfriede is survived by her sons, William (Brenda) Griggs, Thomas Griggs, Daughter, Birdie Flanagan, and Son-in-Law, Richard Bolen. Grandchildren, Kim (Mark) Mettert, Richard Bolen II (April Sutherland), Shawn Flanagan, Chad (Aimee) Griggs, Amy Griggs, Brian (Stephanie) Griggs, Isaiah (Nina) Griggs, Christena Wallen-Griggs, and Uriah Griggs and 13 great grandchildren, Logan Bolen, Addison Bolen, Richard "Liam" Bolen III, Jocelyn Mettert, Iiley Griggs, Amilia Griggs, Brooklynn Wallen, Brooke Griggs, Nora Griggs, Hudson Griggs, Gage Griggs, Remi Griggs, and Michael Griggs .

Elfriede was preceded in death by her Husband, George Griggs, Daughter, Elke Bolen, and Son-in-Law, Neil Flanagan. As well as her parents Thaddäus and Christine Grunau and Sisters, Lina Hohmann, Anna Grunau-Franz, and Marie Gunkel.

Funeral Service will be held at Noon, Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Covington Memorial Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, with calling one hour prior. Calling is also 3-5 and 6-8 p.m.,  Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at the funeral home.  Prefered memorials are to the Alzheimer's Association or the Salvation Army.