Vincenza Freni

Vincenza Freni quietly died 11 days after her husband of 67 years on Nov. 25, 2010, Thanksgiving Day, in Tigard. Known as Jennie, she was born Oct. 10, 1920 in Boston, MA, to Giovanni & Crucifixi Ardito, the third of four children. After growing up in East Boston, she married her childhood friend Anthony “Tony” Freni on June 6, 1943. They were both first generation Sicilian-Americans. After her husband’s service in World War II, they moved to Southern California and raised four children.

Jennie was a happy homemaker. Defying her petite stature, she worked vigorously cleaning, cooking, sewing, and creating many beautiful decorations for her home. As each of her children grew, Jennie taught them many family recipes turning all four into good cooks like herself. The Christmas holiday was the stand-out occasion. Jennie began baking a wide variety of Sicilian pastries in October. With many helping hands, it was not unusual for her to seat over 30 at each holiday meal. Her family was her passion. But her generous and compassionate heart adopted many in-laws, friends and neighbors.

When her husband retired, they followed their children to Oregon where she bowled, square-danced; baby-sat her grandchildren, and tirelessly continued to feed her family.

Jennie is survived by her sister Bernice Amico, her four children Joann Dilley, Jackie Freni-Rothschild, Anthony S. Freni, Thomas Freni; her 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, as well as, many nieces & nephews who loved her dearly. She was a loving servant to her family & friends, and she will be missed by many.

A grave-side service will be held on Sat. Dec 18, 2010 at 1:00pm, at St Anthony’s Cemetery in Tigard.

Arrangements under the direction of Young's Funeral Home, Tigard, OR.