Elfreida Manfredi

Elfreida “Freida” Manfredi, 87, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away in the comfort of her home on Sunday June 8th, 2014. Elfreida was born on October 15th, 1926, in Hanau, Germany, to Karl and Minna Ott. She grew up around art, music, and nature, learning to love all things. Elfreida was dancing as an amateur ballerina when she met and married Ralph Manfredi at the age of 21. She soon moved to America and began her new life. Freida had a heart bigger than imaginable. She loved to sing, dance, cook, entertain, but mostly spend time with her family and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Freida faced many losses. She had lost two brothers in WWII, lost her home and belongings in WWII, her first-born son Ralph Jr., the remainder of her siblings, and her husband of 56 years, Ralph. Nonetheless, Elfreida lived life courageously and brilliantly. She was a naturally devoted, caring, and exceptional mother to four children and grandmother to five—teaching them to smell the roses, enjoy the sun’s warmth, and to take time to enjoy each moment of everyday. Freida believed that time was precious and she never wasted it. You could find her on Sunday’s cooking for her family, attending every dance recital of her granddaughters, watching Law & Order re-runs with cookies and coffee, or dancing in the kitchen of her home. Towards the end of her life, Freida fell stricken with Alzheimer’s, which took most of who she was away. Yet, the important things stayed, like the ability to laugh, smile, hug, kiss, and love uncontrollably. Cared for by her family, Elfreida spent her last years and days loved and looked after for as she had done for them her entire life. Elfreida was preceded in death by her son Ralph Manfredi Jr.; three brothers; one sister; and the love of her life and greatest friend, Ralph Manfredi. Elfreida is survived by her son Carl Manfredi (his wife Elaine and son Carluch Jr.), daughter Amalia Rainey (her husband Sam and daughters Natalia, Angelia, and Adriana), and son Thomas and his wife Renee.