Reuben Mendonca Freitas

Dr. Reuben M. Freitas, D.D.S., passed away peacefully at Nazareth House of Fresno on Wednesday, February 7 at the age of 96. Reuben was born on the family farm in the Easton area of Fresno in 1928 to Joseph Freitas (originally from Faja Grande, Flores, Azores) and Mary (Reis) Freitas (originally from Lomba, Flores, Azores). Reuben's younger brother Joe was born a few years later.

Entering elementary school at Orange Center School knowing only Portuguese, Reuben was held back in first grade. After mastering English, he excelled in school and was the salutatorian of the Washington Union High School class of 1946. Following high school, Reuben enlisted for one term in the United States Army, serving for a year during the post-war period as a medical technician near Tokyo, Japan, in the rank of technical fifth grade and earning the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal Japan, according to his discharge paperwork.

Growing up working on the family farm with an allergy to hay, Reuben decided to pursue a career outside of farming. He attended what was then called Fresno State College utilizing GI Bill educational benefits to meet entry requirements for dental school. Reuben next attended Northwestern University Dental School in downtown Chicago, graduating in 1955. He returned to California and practiced dentistry initially under the mentorship of a senior dentist in Avenal, before coming home to Fresno and starting his own practice in a building located on Blackstone near Princeton. Reuben enjoyed caring for the dental health of his (sometimes multi-generational) patients and loved his patients and small staff. He enjoyed the camaraderie and lifetime friendship of several close friends in the dental field.

It was also through the practice of dentistry that Reuben met his wife, Una, a nurse at Saint Agnes Hospital. One of Reuben's patients knew a group of Irish nurses, and eventually invited Reuben and Una to dinner. They hit it off and were married in Santa Barbara in 1973. Several years later their son Mark was born, followed the next year by their daughter Maureen.

Reuben was a devoted and loving husband and father. He enjoyed vacationing with Una on the California coast and occasionally in Ireland. Together Reuben and Una sacrificed to send their children to Catholic schools, taught them to value hard work and dedication, encouraged them to seek new opportunities and learn new skills, and supported them in attaining their goals. They showed their children, through the trials and the triumphs of life, the importance of putting faith and family first.

In his free time, Reuben was a member of the Fresno Madera Dental Society and regularly attended its meetings as well as those of Fresno Trade Club. He was for many years a member of the Board of Directors of the CPDES Portuguese Hall in Easton. He was regularly present at sporting and other events to cheer on his children. When not busy with work or other activities, Reuben enjoyed planning and completing projects in the house, the garage, or the yard, both on his own and with neighbors.

In 1992, Reuben retired from dentistry after having practiced for 37 years. After a short time acclimating to retired life, he began working part time assisting with funerals at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel, continuing into his 80s. During retirement, Reuben took up cooking and joined Serra Club of Fresno, and regularly attended Sons in Retirement meetings and Catholic Professional and Business Club of the Diocese of Fresno meetings. Reuben enjoyed spending time in the back yard cultivating a garden and attending to a collection of cats.

Reuben, along with Una, was an active member of the Saint Paul Catholic Newman Center for many years, where he served as eucharistic minister and greeter. Longstanding attendees of the early Mass on Sunday, they were part of a strong circle of faith, friendship and fellowship that permeated their lives.

With over 20 combined paternal and maternal aunts and uncles, a large extended family on Una's side, and a network of neighbors and friends from all walks of life, Reuben's life was full. He felt most blessed in his later life to live to see the marriage of his son Mark to his wife Elizabeth, the marriage of his daughter to her husband Kevin, and to meet his two young grandsons Ronan and Rocco.

Reuben was also blessed to have lived independently at home with Una past his 95th birthday. After his health deteriorated, Reuben, accompanied by Una, moved to Nazareth House of Fresno, where he received progressively comprehensive care. His family wishes to express profound gratitude to the staff of Nazareth House and to the Sisters of Nazareth.

Reuben was preceded in death by his parents and brother, and is survived by his wife Una, his children, his daughter-in-law, his son-in-law, and his grandsons. He will be missed by those who knew him and greatly missed by those closest to him. We are sustained by the memory of wonderful moments with him and comforted by our hope in the promises of Christ.

Visitation will take place at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 20, from 2pm to 4pm. A Rosary will be held at Nazareth House at 6pm. The funeral Mass will be at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center on Wednesday, February 21 at 10am, with internment to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.