Helen L. Fredette

Helen L. (Freeman) Fredette, 93, of Newport passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at St. Clare Home in Newport after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Robert A. Fredette. Helen was born March 3, 1922 in Newport, she was a lifelong resident of Newport. She is the daughter of the late Ernest L. and Helen (Nelson) Freeman. Helen graduated from Rogers High School in 1939 and the Newport Secretarial School with Honors. During High School, she won the titles of Homecoming Queen and Co-Ed Colonel.Her first job was working as a secretary at the Torpedo Station on Goat Island during World War II. She retired in 1985 from the Department of Defense at the Newport Naval Base after over 20 years of service. At the time of her retirement, she was supervisor of the Leave and Records Branch for the Naval Station schools. During her tenure, she received many awards and citations. She was a lifelong member of the United Congregational Church, and a member of the Middletown Senior Citizens Center, where she enjoyed line dancing and Bingo. She was an avid reader and world class crocheter, and a lover of the beach. Helen was a charter member of the Town Howlers Square Dancing Club. She is survived by two children, Barbara A. Kelly and her husband Kenneth of Newport, and Robert A. Fredette Jr. and his wife Penny of Portsmouth, her grandchildren Lori J. Oberdeck and Brian J. Schmid of Jacksonville, FL, Christopher J. Hall of Newport, Keith R.E. Hall and Peter K. Hall of Helensborough, Scotland, and her great grandson, Peter K. Oberdeck o Jacksonville, FL. She was preceded in death by her daughter Caroline Denise Fredette Hall, and two brothers, Ernest L. Freeman and Harold D. Freeman.Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 18, from 4:00-7:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 1:00pm at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Newport Memorial Park, Middletown.Donations in Helen's memory may be made to the St. Clare Building Fund, 309 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840. Cemetery Details Newport Memorial Park Vaucluse Avenue Middletown, RI, Visitation SEP 18. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service SEP 19. 01:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com