Cheryl Freeman Tracewski

Old Town--Cheryl Freeman Tracewski, age 58, died in her home surrounded by family on April 26, 2013 after a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer. She was active until the last few weeks of her life, living -- as she had for 58 years – with a spark that kept her walking with friends (and dog, Lucy) and sharing laughter with family until her very last days.

Cheryl was born November 3, 1954, in Camden, New Jersey, the daughter of Woody and Irene Freeman.

Cheryl would describe herself as “Feisty” and throughout her life strived to live up to each challenge as it came. She attended Cherry Hill West High School where she was a proud member of the women’s softball and basketball teams. In 1977, she graduated from the University of Delaware and shortly thereafter married her husband, Kevin Tracewski. They explored their way around the country, sharing in countless adventures from backpacking in Wyoming to sea kayaking in Alaska. Cheryl loved the outdoors and during those days never went far without a bike nearby. She explored roads from Vancouver, Washington to Rochester, New Hampshire before they finally settled in Old Town, Maine with their now family of five.

Upgrading her road bike from one seat to a homemade three-seated rig, Cheryl was a devoted mother to her three children. Throughout the years, she was dedicated to being their biggest fan. In thirty plus years of events, Cheryl never missed one. Old Town got a lucky break when this Mom entered town, as she provided years of support and guidance to sports, recreation and academic programs from grade school on. She was a constant for the kids. Whether it was on the sidelines (or in her sleep) strategizing soccer defenses, working math equations or rehearsing lines for the next speech or play, Cheryl was always there. She got no bigger thrill than watching her kids succeed.

After the kids went off to college, Cheryl enrolled in nursing school and graduated in 2009. For the next few years, she could be found at Boyd Dialysis Center bringing the joy of friendly competition to her patient’s by encouraging them to do the best they could with their treatments. Cheryl’s patients and all who knew her would describe her as a loyal friend, a tough competitor, and ultimately someone you would always choose to have on your team. She has left her mark on all of us.

Cheryl has left behind a lifetime of memories to be cherished and shared by her husband of 34 years, Kevin Tracewski. Her children; Tyler Tracewski, Kendall Tracewski, Kristen and her husband William Bingaman. Her parents; Woody and Irene Freeman. Her three brothers; Scott and wife Theresa Freeman, Kurt and wife Terry Freeman, Keith Freeman and wife Laura Antonelli. Her nephews Christopher, Kyle and Bruno Freeman. Nieces Kelsey Freeman, Becki and husband Mitchell Kidder and their son Jackson.

A memorial service to celebrate Cheryl’s life will be held at the Buchanan Alumni Center at the University of Maine on Friday May 3. The program will begin at 5:30 and be followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts in memory of Cheryl to The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714. Notes of condolence may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com