Community supports family of accident victim

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This article was published 01/02/2021 (2049 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The community is banding together to support the family of a much-loved St. James man whose life ended far too soon.

Kyle Fritsch, 33, was driving home from work around 4:15 p.m. on Weds., Jan. 20 when an oncoming semi collided with his minivan on CentrePort Canada Way.

Kyle was rushed to the hospital but he died from his injuries, leaving behind his grieving wife Selena and three kids — six-year-old son Jack, 17-year-old stepdaughter Angelina and 18-year-old stepdaughter Aliyah.

“Family was his No. 1 priority and he always put us before himself. He loved being a dad more than anything and he would spend all his free time with Jack,” Selena Fritsch said.

“They were just so close. Kyle spent a year at home with Jack shortly after he was born and they did everything together. Jack was the most important person in his life. It’s been hard.”
Kyle also built close relationships with both stepdaughters after entering their lives more than a decade ago.  

“He was quite young when he came into our family and he took it on without any hesitation. He was involved in all their big moments,” Selena said.

“He picked up Aliyah from work every day, and they really enjoyed those rides together. Angie and

Kyle had such similar personalities that you’d think they weren’t step-related.”

Selena also appreciates how her husband was always supportive of her dreams. In January, she returned to university to pursue a master of business administration program. However, she has now decided to put her studies on hold.

“He was a very loving, caring and empathetic person. He loved to help as much as he could,” Selena said.

“He’d come home and tell stories about ways he had helped people in his day. He also liked to be the funny guy. He was always joking.”

His creativity shone through, particularly at his recent job in a print shop.

“He would print clothing and really enjoyed making designs. He also really loved photography and would come home with pictures of things that he created or repurposed,” Selena said.

“He had recently fallen in love with running. It was something that brought him peace. He also enjoyed going to Gimli, where my parents have an RV.”

Because Kyle didn’t have life insurance, Selena’s long-time friend Jill Dyson has set up a GoFundMe page called “Kyle Fritsch (Blackburn) Memorial & Family Support” to help tide the family over during this difficult period.

“Everyone is having a very hard time and they’re taking it moment by moment,” Dyson said.

“Selena needs to focus on grieving and adjusting instead of thinking about how to pay the bills month to month. It will be one less thing to think about if she’s not worried how she’s going to make rent.”

For Selena, these efforts have helped to lighten her load at a dark time.

“I’m so grateful for the support. Everyone has been so kind, and the GoFundMe page has been very comforting with the loss of income. People I know have been reaching out, and I’m amazed by the kindness of strangers,” she said.

“The community has also been so wonderful with providing meals and I really appreciate that. It’s nice to not have to worry about cooking right now.”

While Selena wades through her grief, she makes one request of those who may have encountered her husband.

“I’d like to ask anyone who knew Kyle to just keep talking about him and keep his memory alive,” she said.

“If anyone wants to share stories and memories about him, that would mean a lot to me. I miss him so much.”