Frieda Friedman-Surgey

Frieda Edith Thomas Friedman Surgey

March 9, 1927 – September 5, 2025

Frieda was born in Chester, England, and raised on a farm with six half-siblings in a home without electricity or running water. Her early life was marked by resilience—surviving a ruptured appendix at age 8 and later a WWII bombing in Blackpool that claimed several family members. Frieda and her cousin survived and were pulled out of the rubble after many hours. She said the Lord was with her that day.

At 14, she studied piano at Victoria College of Music. In 1945, Frieda immigrated to the U.S., went to school and became a nurse, and worked in Schenectady, NY, where she met her first husband. They had two children, Daniel and Julie, and later moved to California. After her husband's sudden death in 1977, Frieda returned to school to renew her nursing credentials and support her family. She had young children to take care of and work full time; it was not an easy life.

She spent nearly three decades as a traveling hospice nurse with Pathways Home Health and Hospice, touching countless lives. Many of the families have stayed in touch with her over the years. She met her second husband, Charles Surgey, while caring for his wife. They married in 1984 and settled in Santa Cruz.

Frieda overcame numerous health challenges, including a ruptured colon in 2001. In 2002, she sold her home in Santa Cruz and she built an in law quarters next door to Julie and Jack , where she spent her final years surrounded by love, faith, and her beloved pets.

She is survived by her children Julie Whelan and Daniel Friedman, and her beloved son in law Jack who helped take care of Frieda for years and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings, two husbands, and several extended family members.

Frieda passed peacefully at home with loved ones by her side. Her strength, spirit, and humor will be deeply missed.

***Celebration of life to occur at a later date***