Carla Fritch
”Rainbow the Clown”
Carla Jean Fritch, “Rainbow the Clown,” 62, of Burgettstown, passed away unexpectedly Friday, March 7, 2014. As her final gift on Earth, she was an organ donor.
She was born June 24, 1951, a daughter of the late James and Josephine Persiani Harris.
A 1970 graduate of Union High School in Burgettstown, she studied to be a dental hygienist.
Mrs. Fritch attended Eldersville United Methodist Church, where she taught preschool, which led her to graduate from Clown College in Buffalo, N.Y., which started a long and passionate career as a clown and entertainer.
She traveled extensively to conventions and performed in England and at the annual Easter egg hunt at George H.W. Bush’s Whitehouse and every Tuesday she would perform at the Texas Roadhouse Kid’s Night in Steubenville, Ohio, where she would make balloon animals and paint faces. She entertained at numerous birthday parties, celebrations and community functions within the area and was the Easter Bunny and Mrs. Claus for the Burgettstown Community Library.
When she was not performing as “Rainbow the Clown,” she enjoyed camping with her family.
In 1972, she married her husband, John W. Fritch, who survives.
Also surviving are two children, Christopher John Fritch of Cochranton and Christina Jean Runkel and husband Ryan of Steubenville; five grandchildren, Selena Fritch, Santino, Carmina and Angello Chiovitti and Tyler Fritch; two sisters, Lori Calvert and husband John of Washington and Penny Webber-McGill and husband John of Aliquippa; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are two sisters, Rowena Hoge and Jamie Buzzard.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday in Lee and Martin Funeral Home, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 11.
Because of her love and support of the library, memorial donations may be made in her memory to Burgettstown Community Library, 2 Kerr Street, Burgettstown, PA 15021.