Freddie Lucille Fernbach

Freddie Lucille Lieber Fernbach, age 94 was released from this life on July 15, 2022. She was born in Uvalde, Texas on March 14, 1928, the fifth daughter of Fred and Fanny Lieber. Named after her father, her name epitomized her spunky, energetic personality. In her early life her parents moved the family to Castroville, Texas where she graduated from St. Louis High School and then the Seton School of Nursing in Austin, earning her RN degree, followed by a BS degree in nursing from Dominican College in Houston.

In 1953 she met a dashing young resident from Baylor College of Medicine while on a beach trip to Galveston. That resident, Dr. Donald J. Fernbach, became her husband in 1954 and they enjoyed 59 years together before his passing in 2013. They have four children: Susan Fernbach and husband Peter Boudreaux, Judy Simon and husband Chris, Karin Kraft and husband Gene, and Don Fernbach Jr. and wife Karen. They were blessed with eight grandchildren Andre and Camille Boudreaux, Christopher and Mia Simon, Fritz and Karl Kraft and Allison and Tyler Fernbach and one great-grandchild Eliana Kraft.

Freddie was the consummate volunteer and ignited that passion in her children. She volunteered as the school nurse at St. Cecilia Catholic School until all her children had graduated. She was one of the first volunteers of the Ronald McDonald House Houston and was active in its fundraising efforts. She was proud of her honorary membership in the Houston Junior Women’s Club and served as a volunteer in the organization’s resale shop. A member of the Baylor Faculty Wives for more than 30 years, she helped to raise funds for scholarships and basic needs of medical students at Baylor College of Medicine. With a dedicated team of sewing volunteers, she made hundreds of quilts for babies born with HIV/AIDS at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Freddie served for many years as the president of the residents’ association at the Brookdale West University where she implemented Saturday morning coffee and donuts to raise money enabling children with cancer receiving treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital to attend Camp Periwinkle each summer. This project grew to include the Brookdale Galleria and Brookdale Clear Lake. Twenty years later, coffee and donuts are still sold each Saturday at the Brookdale West University and more than 70 children have gone to camp thanks to these sales.

Freddie loved her family and friends, we can only surmise the “Lunch Bunch” friends were a mutual therapy group with everyone talking nonstop and simultaneously each month.

The family wishes to thank Freddie’s caregivers who helped her during the last difficult years of her life, Mari Vasquez, Bola Olayinka, Deri Escobar, and Celain Anthony. The care and devotion by these women has been remarkable, especially during the isolating time of the pandemic. We thank Houston Hospice for making her final transition as comfortable as possible.

A rosary and visitation will be held at Earthman Funeral Home on Thursday, August 11, 2022 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Friday, August 12 at 10:30 a.m. with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Periwinkle Foundation, 3400 Bissonnet St., Suite 185, Houston, TX 77005; Texas Children’s Hospital Hematology and Oncology Center, Office of Philanthropy, Suite 5214, P.O. Box 300630, Houston, TX 77230-0630; Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030; or a charity of your choice.