Beverly A. Freeman

Beverly A. Freeman (née Swanson), 68, of West Hartford, CT died peacefully on April 17, surrounded by her family. Born January 28, 1947 in Attleboro, MA, she was predeceased by her parents Clifford and Helen Swanson, and her brother Roger. Bev attended Attleboro public schools and went on to receive her bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH. On a college summer tour of Europe, she met and fell in love with Robert Freeman of Omaha, NE. The two were married in October 1969 and spent the first years of their life together in Chicago, where Bev worked at the Northwestern University Graduate Library before starting a family. In 1977 they moved to West Hartford where they raised their four children. Bev was a devoted wife and mother, who modeled love and compassion to all she knew. Much of Bev's time and energy outside of the home was devoted to volunteering. She gave countless hours of service to her church, Bethany Covenant, where she held numerous positions of leadership including three years as the first female chair of the church. During this time she led the church through significant transition and growth. She was a visionary leader who challenged others to ask hard questions. In 2000 she began working in the office of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church until her retirement in 2011. Many precious memories took place at her family cottage at Touisset Point, Warren, RI, where Bev enjoyed spending every summer of her life. The walls of their small summer home were filled with the laughter and play of her eight grandchildren, the sight and sound of which were her greatest joy in life. Beverly is survived by her husband Bob; children Greg (Laura) of West Hartford, CT; Lis Hood of Manchester, NH; Sarah Daigle (Eric) of Wethersfield, CT; and Andrew of Chicago, IL; grandchildren Brian and David Hood; Daniel, James and Emily Freeman; and Alexander, Hannah, and Emmett Daigle; sister Carolyn Manlove (Vic) of Warren, RI; and by many cousins, nephews and nieces, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial fund to receive gifts for distribution to organizations Bev served and supported. Gifts can be sent to All Saints' Episcopal Church (memo: Bev Freeman), 4550 N. Hermitage Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 or www.allsaintschicago.org/give/BevFreeman. Memorial donations may also be made to The American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org). Visitation will be on Friday, May 8 from 3-5 pm at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 South Main St., New Britain. A memorial service will be held at Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill Street, Berlin, on Saturday May 9 at 11 am, followed by a reception.