ARLINGTON, Texas — Dr. Carl Ignatius Frisina, 97, passed away peacefully with his family at his side early Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 2026, in hospice care at Arlington Memorial Hospital.

Born April 27, 1928, in Westline, Pa., he was the seventh child of Joseph Sr. and Catherine Ruffo Frisina, who immigrated from Italy through Ellis Island.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ralph, Anthony, Joseph Jr. and D. Robert; and sisters Amelia and Florence.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Wendy (nee Drennan); and his loving children, Stephanie, Stephen, Gregory (Rochelle, her children Luke and Leah) and Heather (Brandon Jonson) and daughter-in-law Dedra Frisina. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Heath and Haley Frisina and Kate and Cole Jonson; and many nieces and nephews.

Carl graduated from St. Bernard High School in Bradford, Pa., in 1946, where he was president of his class, the high scoring forward on the basketball team and voted by his class as best dancer and most studious. Immediately after high school, he served in the 7th Army Calvary in Japan until his honorable discharge in 1948.

Under the GI Bill he obtained his undergraduate degree at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. He went on to obtain his medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill., was where he did his internship and general surgery residency. It was also there that he crossed paths with a Canadian nurse, Wendy Drennan, who became his bride Nov. 23, 1963.

After spending time in his hometown of Bradford practicing as a general surgeon, the family moved to Illinois where he was able to further his medical education at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Ill., while also working in the Emergency Room in Naperville. Upon finishing his urology residency, it was time to move again, but to a place with more sunshine: Arlington.

Carl set up his private practice in urology in 1977. In 1995 he was pleased to join Urology Associates of North Texas and continued working as part of the group until retiring in 2019 at the age of 91. Our family often joked that he probably removed more kidney stones than most urologists in the United States given his illustrious career. Medicine was his professional calling and over his lifetime we know that his impact was felt by many.

Family was his personal calling. From annual family vacations, to playing cards around the kitchen table, to rounds of golf, to simple drop-by visits, he was happiest when he was with his family. We truly appreciated that he led a long, healthy life and was as sharp as ever to the end.

Carl leaves behind a legacy of service, love and kindness. His presence will be deeply missed, but the love he shared and the memories he created will remain with all who knew him.

Special thanks to Bri Rand for her kind and conscientious caregiving for the past two years, and to Kari Von Krosigk for her daily photos that started his day with a smile.

We were sent an angel in his final hours in hospice care. Thank you so much Nurse Amber Gregory for providing us all comfort.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, at Wade Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway. Family remarks will be at 7:15 p.m. with a rosary at 7:30. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 2100 N. Davis Drive. A reception in the parish hall will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Mission Arlington.