May 8, 2022, early evening, comforted by her sisters, brother, and her dog, Teddy, Becca softly slipped away from us.
Born January 26, 1949 in Highland Park, MI, Becca was the oldest child of William W. and Betty A. (Pierce) Freeman. In 1953, they moved to Chelsea, MI, and this area would become her home for her entire life, creating long-lasting friendships and wonderful memories for so many of us.
Becca enjoyed summers in her childhood with grandparents and cousins in Tennessee. Through this early contact with her grandmother, a focus and love of education was established which led Becca on a journey of teaching 3rd grade through high school aged children throughout her career. There were some tangents in her journey, including retail sales, and a flight attendant in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Becca returned to school in the mid 1980’s to receive her Master’s Degree in Special Education and utilized this knowledge to work with teenage girls at risk at Vista Maria in Dearborn. Becca then moved into Special Education at the Willow Run School District from where she retired in 2009.
Becca developed an appreciation of the outdoors and animals at a young age, with pet horses to ride, cats, dogs, and an appreciation of all wildlife. Not surprisingly, when she found her home on the Huron River it became her permanent residence, from where she enjoyed the deer, ducks, swans, and songbirds. Becca also enjoyed fishing on the river and adjoining chain of lakes – something she was taught by her dad. He taught Becca to bait her own hook and remove the fish herself if she wanted to fish with him.
Becca’s love of the outdoors included the sunshine, which led to Florida trips during school breaks. Upon her retirement she became a snowbird, a new family was found with these Florida friends. Comfort, care, and compassion from her special Florida family kept her spirits high during her toughest struggles, along with fond memories of fun times had at Crescent Beach, Captain Curt’s, and the Crescent Club.
Although Becca did not have any biological children of her own, she touched a thousand plus young lives during her teaching career. She recently admitted that the 6th graders she taught during her years in Manchester were her favorite. Along with these children were her pet cats and dogs that she had, these were her “babies” with her last little guy, Teddy, being the only one to survive her.
Preceding Becca in death were her parents, William W. and Betty A. Freeman, and brother, John G. Freeman.
Survivors include her siblings, Ruthie Freeman, and Billy (Ann) Freeman, nieces and nephews, David and Riley Stone, Emily (Dustin) Krueger, Rebecca (Micah) Behnke; and great-niece and great-nephew, Piper Stone and Jayden Krueger.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Lester officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Heartland Hospice, who made Becca’s last few months comfortable, along with dear friends that kept up her spirits via text messages and Facebook posts.
