Norma Vaughan Lewis Freiberg

Norma Vaughan Lewis Freiberg died at her home surrounded by her family on March 26, 2023. Norma was born in 1929, in Newport, Rhode Island, the daughter of Captain Thomas Lawrence Lewis (United States Navy) and Virginia Vaughan Lewis. She had one brother, John Thomas Lewis (Diana Monroe), with whom she shared a long and loving relationship. She married the late Lieutenant John Lawrence Freiberg (United States Navy Air Corps) in 1960, and they had a long, harmonious marriage that both cherished. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Newcomb College of Tulane University in 1950. She was a resident of New Orleans for 77 years and a proud lifelong member of the Democratic Party. Her love of country was deep and enduring.

Norma was widely known and loved around New Orleans. Despite her many gifts and accomplishments, she was always humble. She possessed distinctive warmth and kindness and welcomed everyone. She was always a hard worker and had great strength of will. Norma was empathetic and generous and had a deep sense of justice. Norma was free of malice and envy and worked throughout her life to help others. She maintained an optimistic view of human nature and could see the best parts of everyone she met.

Norma demonstrated an intense public service commitment to the City of New Orleans and its people. Her spirit of service to others began in the early 1970s when she joined, and then became, the Director of the Human Relations Committee Answer Desk in City Hall. She served as the Neighborhood Programs Coordinator for the New Orleans Police Department for several years, organizing and coordinating the New Orleans Neighborhood Police Anti-Crime Council, later serving as the Deputy Assistance to the President of Tulane University in the 1980s. Between 1986 and 1993, she was the Deputy Director and then Executive Director of the New Orleans Neighborhood Development Foundation, administering a non-profit education and advocacy program for low and moderate income homebuyers. She retired from the Neighborhood Development Foundation, but her ardent dedication to bettering our community never ended.

In addition to this formal employment, Norma was a board member of the Consumer Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Board of Councillors of Ochsner Clinic Foundation, the Institutional Review Board of Ochsner Clinic Foundation, the Advisory Council of St. Augustine High School, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the Citizen Advisory Council for New Orleans, the League of Women Voters, the Urban League of New Orleans, and the Bureau of Governmental Research.

Her commitment to public service was recognized by a slate of awards and commendations: a Special Commendation from the New Orleans Police Department (1981), the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the Council of Jewish Women (1985), the YWCA Role Model Award (1992), the Special Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Area Committee (1994), the Peaceful Liberator Award from the New Orleans Museum of Art (1985), the YWCA Women Who Have Made a Different Award (1997), the Young Leadership Council Role Model Award (1998), the Family Service of Greater New Orleans Ten Outstanding Persons award (2003), and the CourtWatch NOLA Volunteer Award (2008).

Norma is survived by her four sons, Wilmer Jones Freiberg (Marylou Baker), Randolph Lewis Freiberg (Sonia Soares), John L. Freiberg, Jr., (Evelyn Marie Evans), and Peter Newton Freiberg (Mary Kelly). She leaves ten grandchildren, Lewis Baker Freiberg, William Hunter Freiberg, Sarah Elizabeth Freiberg-Fant, Daniel Soares Freiberg, Christopher Soares Freiberg, John Lawrence Freiberg, III, Avery Victor Jenkins, Jr., Kaleb Jordan Jenkins, Katharine Elizabeth Freiberg, and Thomas Lawson Freiberg. Her legacy has two great-grandchildren, Brooks Jones Freiberg and Miller James Freiberg.

The family will have a private interment service. Friends and family are asked to pay tribute to Norma’s amazing life at a reception on Saturday April 8, 2023, between 11:00 and 2:00 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans.

Norma asks that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Second Harvesters Food Bank or the Norma and John Freiberg Institutional Research Bureau at Ochsner Clinic Foundation.

To leave your fond thoughts, memories, and condolences for the family, please visit the online guestbook at www.lakelawnmetairie.com