Mary Lou was born in Fowler, IN, the daughter of the late Joseph Leo and Anna Marie (nee Dwyer) Freeland. She attended St. Mary’s School in Michigan City graduating St. Mary’s High School in 1946. She was a member of the Girls Scouts, various high school clubs, and served as class president. Her High School yearbook quote was “serious but happy.”
Mary Lou attended Indiana University Bloomington joining her older sister Arlene (Freeland) Seidler and graduating in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, Delta Gamma sorority, Association for Childhood Education, Parent Teachers Association Michigan City and the National Education Association.
Mary Lou taught kindergarten for 4 years in Michigan City and became a faculty member of Eastview School in White Plains NY in 1954.
Mary Lou married Henning Robert (Bob) Klouman, son of the late Henning and Gladys (nee Mills) Klouman at St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception Church in Michigan City, IN. The couple moved initially to Scarsdale, then Pleasantville NY ultimately ending in Wilton CT in 1970. The marriage ended in divorce in 1983.
In addition to raising seven children, Mary Lou was a Boy Scout Den Mother, Kindergarten room mother for Comstock School in Wilton, a member of the Wilton PTA. a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, a diamond jubilee member of the Delta Gamma sorority and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mary Lou was an avid golfer, paddle ball player and curler. She loved the beach and as children we spent the summer at our grandparents’ home in Michigan City where we spent our time at the lake with our cousins, the Freeland’s, Seidler’s and McKnight’s.
In 1981 Mary Lou was hired as a pre-K teacher by the Ridgefield Community Kindergarten at the Lounsbury House on Main Street, Ridgefield. She went on to became the head teacher and then ultimately the Director of RCK for 27 years.
Survivors include her children: Jennifer Roy (Noel Sr), Thomas Klouman (Christy), Geoffrey Klouman, Christopher Klouman (Ann), Allison Zanine, Andrea Coppola, Andrew Klouman. Grandchildren are Christopher Klouman and Mathew Klouman, Patrick and Kyle (wife Ann) Klouman, Allison Coppola, Elynzia Coppola Bolduc (husband Maurice), Jillian Zanine Marceau (husband Kevin) Jessie Zanine, Grace, Eleanor and Lillian Klouman. Great grandchildren Charlotte Louise and Reece Bolduc, Logan Henning Klouman and Marylou Marceau.
A Memorial Gathering will be held from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony and Internment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City in the Spring of 2025.
In remembrance of Mary Lou’s life and her love of children’s early education and books, the
family asks that any charitable donations be made to Ridgefield Community Kindergarten, 353 Main
St., Ridgefield, CT 06877 or Bethel Library Children’s Services, 189 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT. 06801.
