Mary Louise Freiheit

She was born March 11, 1928, in Youngstown, Ohio, as the only child of Andy and Mary (Remner) Thalmann. Her mother had immigrated with her family to the United States from Romania at age one. Her US-born father spent most of his childhood in Transylvania, returning to the United States as a young adult. In Youngstown, Mary Lou grew up with a strong German heritage, where both English and German were spoken. She attended the Martin Luther Lutheran Church, in which her family was very active, and graduated from South High School in 1946.

She graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1950, with a Bachelor of Science, simultaneously becoming certified with the Western Reserve University School for Medical Technologists. At Capital, she was a member of Delta Phi Alpha—an honorary organization promoting German language and culture. She was a member of the Women’s Athletic Association and the Leonard Science Club, and also played women’s basketball.

She worked at Youngstown South Side Hospital as chief technician in charge of the Hematology lab from 1950-1952. She later set up and ran the first out-patient clinic lab at Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio from 1952-1954. After a hiatus to be a full-time mom of four boys, and only working part-time on occasion, she went back to work full time working for Roche Biomedical Laboratories for 22 years, retiring in 1992.

Mary Lou and Harold (“Hal”) Freiheit were married on November 10, 1952, in Youngstown, Ohio. This union lasted 52 years before his passing in 2004. They moved from Youngstown, to Delaware, to Dayton, and eventually to Dublin, Ohio, where they raised four sons—Robert, David, Christopher, and Alan.

Mary Lou and her family were longtime members of the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, where Mary Lou sang in the choir. She and her husband were members of several local clubs and organizations—the Columbus Historical Society, the Musical Box Society International, the Carousel Organ Association of America, the Ohio Canal Society, and the ‘Heart of Ohio’ Postcard Club. The couple spent a lot of time attending music box conventions and enjoyed participating in many parades with their band organ (calliope) on a float. Mary Lou enjoyed traveling with her family. In 2006, she traveled to Transylvania with the Alliance of Transylvania Saxons.

Mary Lou was a joyful person, a dedicated wife and mother, a wonderful homemaker, a great cook, and a huge inspiration to all who knew her. She was guided by her faith and was a great role model. She was always welcoming and had a pleasant and fun-loving personality. She loved to laugh and delighted in life. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and she loved to go dancing. She adored her family and spending time with them. She enjoyed scrapbooking and making crafts with her grandchildren, playing in the yard with them, as well as attending their ball games, dance recitals, and band concerts. Even her grandchildren that lived on the west coast felt loved by her by cards and gifts for every holiday, they knew they were not forgotten. She liked hosting family get-togethers and dinners at her home, especially for birthdays and holidays. In her later years, Mary Lou began to suffer from Dementia and eventually Alzheimer’s, and sadly lost many of her wonderful memories.

Mary Lou is survived by the following four sons—Robert (Denise) Freiheit of Sacramento, California; David (Julie) Freiheit, currently living in Columbus, but from Tacoma, Washington; Christopher (JoAnn) Freiheit of Delaware, Ohio; and Alan (Brenda) of Blacklick, Ohio; ten grandchildren—Dr. Derek Freiheit of Nevada, Erika (Nicholas) Baldwin of California; Jonathan (Jessica) Freiheit, Amos (Elanor) Freiheit, Grace (Michael) Harrison, Hope (Austin) Kark, of Washington state, Faith (Ashton) Curtis of Canada; Sarah Freiheit of New York, Erik Freiheit of Columbus; and Sophia Freiheit of Blacklick; and ten great-grandchildren—Blake and Reese Baldwin; Jazmyn and Zander Freiheit; Josephine and Evangelina Freiheit; Zoey and Maya Harrison; and Millie and Nora Kark.

It truly takes a community to care for someone suffering with dementia. It was indeed a family effort. The family wants to extend special thanks to Mary Lou’s watchful neighbors, many friends from Upper Arlington Lutheran Church who took time to sit with her so family could have a break, to the various caregivers, to the kind medical staff, and to Bella Care Hospice who cared for her and helped the family in the last ten months of her life.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220. Cookie and Coffee Reception following service.

In Lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her memory to the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43220 or the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 (Write in apply to local chapter) Or call 1-800-272-3900 and donation over Phone, ask to be applied to local chapter.