Gerardine Frawley, 77; Catholic Charity Worker, Publisher

Gerardine Clancy Frawley, 77, co-publisher with her late husband, Patrick J. Frawley Jr., of the National Catholic Register and Twin Circle Catholic newspapers from 1975 until 1995, died Thursday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

A native of Vancouver, Canada, Frawley spent most of her life in Los Angeles, where she reared nine children and devoted herself to Catholic charities. She was honored for her efforts by being inducted as a Dame of Malta and Dame of the Order of St. Gregory.

Frawley, who attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, worked extensively with St. Ann’s Orphanage Guild, the Los Angeles Orphanage Guild and the Daughters of Charity at St. Vincent’s Hospital, among other groups.

With her husband, Frawley also was active in California Republican politics.