William (Bill) Francis Freitas was born on September 23, 1925 to Antoine (Tony) and Mary Pacheco Freitas at the family farm in Atwater, California and entered into eternal rest on Thursday, September 28, 2017 five days after his 92nd birthday. He attended Applegate Elementary School in Atwater. After graduation he started farming his own property given to him to help support the family. He met the love of his life Clementina (Clem) Lopes at a mutual friends wedding in 1948 and they were married in El Nido, CA for 66+ years. Together with Clem he worked expanding their acreage to grow farm crops and to provide for the dairy in Atwater for 38 years. They retired and sold their farm and dairy in 1988. They then moved to Merced to live their retirement years enjoying family, friends and travel. Dad was an avid San Francisco Giants baseball and 49ers football fan. He attended many games and enjoyed listening
and watching all games. In his younger days hunting and fishing with family and friends was very much a part of his life. He enjoyed reading history and
farming journals. He and Clem also attended all functions and sporting events of their children and grandchildren. With their children and grandchildren, dad and mom would travel to Santa Cruz annually for a large family vacation. They loved the coast and enjoyed their many trips to various sea side locations. They
also enjoyed visiting his wife’s family in Massachusetts. Bill and Clem also traveled to Canada and the Azores. They enjoyed their bus trips to casinos with family and friends. As a very spiritual man, his faith was part of his everyday life. He attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Atwater and later St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Merced. He was also a member of S.E.S. Lodge. Bill leaves behind his daughters Barbara Gouveia (Tony), Atwater; Debbie Pedretti,
Merced; Charlene Mitchell (Bill), Merced; and his son Bill Freitas Jr., Merced. His grandsons Anthony Gouveia (Victoria), Atwater; Gregory Gouveia (Emily), Turlock; Gino Pedretti III ( Michelle), El Nido; Garrett Pedretti (Robert), Chowchilla and Billy Mitchell, Merced. Granddaughters Cassie Lopina (Kevin),Shingles Springs; Mandi Kanawyer (Ross) Atwater; Whitley Showalter (Nick), Turlock. Great grandchildren Jeremy & Grace Gouveia, Kellan & Clara Lopina, Mikayla
& Nolan Pedretti, Hudson Gouveia, Wrett Showalter and Kennedy Kanawyer. His sister in- law Marie Freitas, Gustine and brother-in-law Frank Lopes, Atwater and numerious nieces and nephews are also surviving. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Clementina; parents Antoine and Mary Freitas; grandson Jeremy Gouveia; and six siblings, Elsie Avilla (Joe), Arnold Freitas, Cecelia Valadon (John), Tony Freitas (Merle), Marie Freitas and Dorothy Reyburn (Ed); sister-in-law Paulina Tripp (Bob). Visitation will be held on Friday, October 6, 2017 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home in Merced
followed by prayer of the Rosary at 7pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Merced at 9
am. Interment will immediately follow at Evergreen Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Patricks Catholic Church.
Arrangements under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, Merced, CA.
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