Ella Marie Fread

Ella Fread, 86, of Kearney, died Saturday, April 12, 2014 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Hannappel officiating, and burial will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 16, 2014 from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church with a wake service at 7:00 p.m. at the St. James Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to the St. James Catholic Church. A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Ella Marie Anderson was born on March 8, 1928 to Raymond and Margaret Anderson in Litchfield, NE. One of 10 siblings, Ella learned at an early age that hard work was a fundamental of life and she instilled that into her six children, Mary Erazim, Raleigh, NC, twins Ken Fread, Houston, TX and Kathryn Lindaman, deceased, Portland, OR, twins Monty Fread, Kearney, NE and Cindy Collins, Raleigh, NC and Lori Gould, Raleigh, NC. That’s right two sets of twins!! Thirteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren that all benefit from the life benchmarks set by Ella. Ella was educated early on in one room schoolhouses and ended up becoming a teacher in a one room schoolhouse at the age of 16 when she was a senior. She later got her teaching degree in 1970 and spent the next 40 years educating youngsters in Central, NE. She was honored with the Presidential Award of Excellence in Education, became Masters prepared in 1981 and thrived as an outstanding educator even after retirement when she remained a substitute teacher for many years. Ella championed reading above all other subjects and was adamant that “her” students were able to read at their grade level. Teaching the children of former students became commonplace in her later career and no one found it unusual to have someone come up and ask her if she remembered them from first grade. In 1947 Ella Anderson, age 19, boarded a train with only a chaperone at her side, bound for Washington State. She was making the trip to marry her fiancé, and true love, Russell Ezra Fread and so she did on June 28, 1947. They married in Port Townsend, WA where Russell was stationed with the Army. The apartment over a book store, still in business, was their honeymoon suite. They visited Port Townsend many times since. Russell and Ella spent their life together raising 6 children as they fulfilled their life aspirations. Ella taught school, tended a garden, canned the vegetables, gathered eggs, baked and cooked many delicious meals and delights as well as faithfully went to church every Sunday, while helping Russell farm the land and do the chores. She had strong opinions on most subjects and loved discussing them. Some include the Catholic Church, reading and education, diet and exercise, cooking, politics, even sports. She picked up the sport of golf later in life and became an avid participant. Ella was a delight on the course and truly enjoyed the good shots of others as much as her own. She reveled in the play of grandsons during their high school careers at Kearney Catholic. Watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune brought out Ella’s competitive nature. Although a bad play or game by her beloved Huskers brought out something else altogether. Ella was an excellent cook that scoffed at recipes. She was a great baker of pies, breads, and her specialty, cinnamon rolls! That said, the fried chicken could have given the Colonel all he bargained for! Usually there was a lot of flour all over the kitchen. So good at so many things, Ella was at her best as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her children exemplify everything that was good about Ella-- High morals and ethics, perseverance, great sense of humor, the love of being with people. The kids are all exemplary hosts and hostesses just like their mother. Family was the most important thing to Ella. Russell and Ella put thousands upon thousands of miles on a lot of Buicks to visit the kids over the years. Ella even told the car salesman one time, “Don’t tell us that it’s a high miler! We know how many miles it has!” Nothing meant more to Ella than to have the family close. Russell and Ella are a true love story. Almost seven decades and counting because love doesn’t stop when we lose someone. Ella, your suffering is over, your fight is done. You are with HIM and loved ones in Heaven. Our tears are not for you, our tears are for us. Missing you, Your Loving Family Ella is survived by her husband Russell Fread of Kearney, daughters; Mary Erazim of Raleigh, NC, Cindy Collins and her husband Bobby of Raleigh, NC, Lori Gould and husband Todd of Raleigh, NC, sons; Kenneth Fread and his wife Laura of Houston, TX, Monty Fread and his wife Sue of Kearney, NE, son in law Rex Lindaman of Portland, OR, brother; Earl Anderson and his wife Gwen of Pleasanton, NE, sister Carol Supanchick and her husband Bob of Ravenna, NE, Ella was preceded in death by her daughter Kathryn Lindaman, grandson Alex Fread, son in law John Erazim, two brothers, and five sisters. PDF Printable Version

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Ella Marie Fread

April 12, 2014 - April 12, 2014