Freida Gertrude Ward

It is with sincere appreciation for the certainty of God’s love, which we learned from our mother, that we share God’s welcoming home Freida on November 29th, 2018.

Freida passed contentedly, at home, in her sleep enjoying her favourite big band music, in her 91st year, at the Bob Rumball Long Term Care Home in Barrie. On her last day there, she attended church, engaged in discussions and told her nurse she was “Good” when tucked in for the night.

An avowed uptown girl, Freida was a lifelong fan of her hometown-Toronto (adamantly insisting “If Toronto doesn’t have it -you don’t need it!”) Predeceased by her parents, Freida has enjoyed every Christmas for the past 64 years with her adoring husband Gerald, (who passed January 20/18). Mercifully God ensured that their record will go on unbroken for evermore!

Freida is survived by her brother Robert; three loving children; Brian, Bruce, and Susan; daughter-in-law Lydia; 7 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.

A devoted mother, wife, sister and accomplished homemaker Freida loved life, her husband, family (including pet dogs Penny and Sheba), friends, church (Trinity United Church, Kitchener for over 50 years, actively belonging to the UCW and teaching Sunday School), and community. She prided herself in providing generous, delicious meals, a well-kept comfortable home and outstanding support.

Growing up in Toronto’s Junction, Freida made close lifelong friends at school and church. She enjoyed music, shows, friends, school, playing violin, and canoeing at the waterfront. After graduating from Humberside Collegiate, she attended McMaster University (Bachelor of Arts) in Hamilton, where she met the love of her life Gerald.

Marrying in 1953 at High Park Church in Toronto, Freida and Gerald settled in Kitchener. They worked, raised their family, relished immersing themselves in and contributing to the community, culture and life there. Freida was active in “Home and School” as well as Scouting and the Guiding Movement (Commissioner), and encouraging her family’s participation in scouting, music, sports, crafts and travel. She went out of her way to ensure a happy, comforting, welcoming, accepting, understanding home and exceptional support. Once the family was grown, Freida enjoyed a career in retail sales of women’s fashion at Simpson’s “The Room”.

Freida enjoyed entertaining, and delighted in hosting family and friends for parties, bridge nights, holidays and occasions. Freida became an accomplished, self taught quilter, and delighted in discovering unique fabrics and creating amazing comforters for her family and friends. She was recognized for donating over 100 handmade quilts to the children’s hospital.

While Freida also loved travelling, shopping, theatre, and was an avid supporter of the KW symphony, she was happiest at home with dad warmly visiting with family and friends.

After a heart attack, and triple-bypass surgery in 2001 Freida’s life slowed considerably, and after over 60 years together in Kitchener, Freida and Gerald relocated to Alliston (Kingsmere Retirement’s assisted living floor- as she had developed Alzheimers), and then to Barrie’s Bob Rumball Home, where they enjoyed compassionate loving care. In recognition and appreciation of that, we ask that you consider a donation to the Bob Rumball Foundation or charity of your choice in lieu of flowers. www.bobrumball.org