Freda Mae Calahan

Freda Calahan, 95, was born on August 3, 1922 to Henry and Emily Liebrecht in Stornoway, Saskatchewan, Canada in a small German settlement. She died January 27, 2018 in Yakima. The family moved to Chicago, the Dakotas, Montana and numerous places, coming to Yakima Valley in 1939.

In her high school years during the week she kept house, cooked and cared for the children of a doctor and his wife. She graduated from Toppenish High School a year early.

She married Freddie Calahan on May 12, 1944 in Yakima, making their home on the Roza, north of Outlook.

Freda became a U.S. citizen in 1950. She was very active, belonging to the 30-30 dance club, Roza Dust Dodgers and the Good Sam RV club.

She also enjoyed gardening, crocheting, word search and loved to decorate and entertain.

Fred and Freda enjoyed fishing and going to their cabin at Rimrock Lake.

After spending many years farming in Buena and Outlook, they retired. After retiring in 1978, they relocated to Yakima, spending their retirement years traveling extensively in the U.S. and abroad.

Freddie died December 21, 1989.

Freda enjoyed her time at Landmark where she participated in all the activities and especially enjoyed the entertainment.

She is survived by her son Fred (Cindy) Calahan; daughters, Sandra (Russ) McDonnell and Kathleen Calahan; two grandchildren, Kevin (Robin) Mooney and Jennifer (Eric) Michels; four great-grandchildren, Tyler (Hayley), Tanner, Madison and Kennedy who all called her Grandma C. Freda is also survived by brothers Henry “Hank”, Gary and Jerry and a sister, Marjorie Williams.

Freda is also preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ted and Herman along with sisters Dorothy Liebrecht, Edna Duncan and Irene Hoyt.

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and we could not have asked or wished for any better. We are sad and heartbroken but were so very lucky and grateful to have had her for as long as we did. She was a kind and beautiful soul, strong willed and stubborn but those were the things we loved about her. She was the best part of our day, everyday! We love you mom. Love love, kiss kiss, always and forever.

Special thanks to Landmark Care Center for their thoughtful care of our mother. Also thanks to the paramedics, fire dept., ER at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital and Cottage in the Meadow.

Thanks to Pastor Carolyn and the members of Central Lutheran Church.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 2 at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave. with interment following at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 1 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. also at Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Lutheran Church c/o Keith and Keith Funeral Home. To share a memory, visit www.keithandkeith.com.