Freda B. May

Freda B. May, 99, of Venice, FL, formerly of Woodbridge and Orange, CT, passed away on March 18, 2015. She was the loving wife of the late Raymond F. May. Born in Schifferstadt Pfalz, Germany on July 23, 1915, she was a daughter of the late Karl and Maria Gruber Bühler. She is survived by her niece, Helene (John) Palmieri, of Port Charlotte, FL, and two great-nephews, Gary Skellwies, of Colchester, CT and David (Christine) Skellwies, of Amston, CT, and a great great neice Kristen Skellwies of Black Lick , OH, as well as several other nieces & nephews. She is predeceased by her sisters, Cecelia Depgen and Elizabeth Gilman, and her cousin, Theodore N. Baldwin. After arriving in the US from Germany in 1935, Freda had a successful career in the cooking and culinary management industry, first working for the Associated Seed Growers in the 1940s. She later became the Food Service Supervisor for the Connecticut Cafeteria Company, working for 25 years before retiring at age 70. She was the founder of the Orange Business Professional Women's Group and was a proud member of several other organizations, including the Harugari Singing Society in West Haven, the Ladies of the Venice Shrine (LOVS) in Venice, FL, Evangelical Covenant Church in Venice, FL, and formerly of Orange Congregational Church. She loved trout fishing, traveling through Europe, playing bingo and cards, and trips to the casino. A graveside burial service will take place at 11 AM on Tuesday, April 28 at Orange Center Cemetery; 650 Orange Center Rd., Orange, CT. Arrangements are in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Contributions in Freda's memory may be sent to the Masonic Charity Foundation, PO Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492, or to the Evangelical Covenant Church, 950 Ridgewood Ave., Venice, FL 34285.