Société des Missions Africaines - membre honoraire
Membre honoraire de la S.M.A.

née le 18 décembre 1910 en Autriche au service de la Province des Etats-Unis depuis le 7 juin 1958 membre honoraire le 27 octobre 1985 décédée le 30 août 1993

1958-1993 Tenafly, au service de la Province US 1985 membre honoraire de la SMA Décédée à le 30 août 1993 à l’âge de 82 ans

Freda Walter was born in Augstia on December 18, 1910.
She died at the Woodcrest Center, New Milford, N.J., on August 30, 1993.

Stepmother of all the children of Coppell Drive … her husband, Joe, had sold his cloth printing business and retired. As is common in such cases with retired husbands, Freda’s every move was under scrutiny. “Where are you going? When will you be back? Then she received a blessed relief from Fr. Ben Burke who merely suggested the possibility of a mailing of Perpetual Mass Folders to members of the Ancient Order of Hiberians. Freda immediately offered her services. She would volunteer to help him. Before long she became the right arm of The Mission – recruiting neighborhood teenagers to prepare the big mailing. Each day she patiently waited for returns – and little by little responses arrived. She would acknowledge the receipt of each one and mail a replacement folder. The program began to grow and grow. Eventually Joe became envious and he too volunteered to work at The Mission. He set up a print shop in the basement of the white frame house that served as office and residence. Eventually Joe and Freda were able to convince Fr. O’Donoghue (the Provincial) and Fr. Burke that they had to expand. Within a few short years this new building was under construction. It was dedicated just six years after Freda’s arrival on the scene. Joe passed on to his eternal reward in 1970 and Freda remained. She continued her 50-plus hours per week at The Mission where she remained until the time of her final illness.

Freda was what might be considered a ‘tough boss’ because of her personal strict work ethic. Her concern for the Africans – especially the Liberians – and her friendship with them prompted her to assist them in many ways. For example she paid for the flying lessons of Bishop Ben Sekey.

Freda began service to the SMA on June 7, 1958. She was named an Honorary Member of the Society by the Superior General and his Council on October 27, 1985. The official ceremony took place in the Tenafly Chapel on the feast of St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionaries, December 3, 1985. She was overwhelmed by this honor which made her an official member of the SMA family, at request to Provincial in Council from S. John Murray, May 1, 1985.

The Perpetual Mass Association Program is a success today because back in 1958 Freda took the idea and diligently saw it through with the assistance of her husband Joseph and her daughter’s school friends. … The majority of the ‘problems’ connected with the functioning of the Mission have always ended up on Freda’s desk… She is now 76 years old and her eyesight is not good…
Her daughter John, son-in-law Doug, her grandchild C.J.

‘In view of her outstanding service and especially her long-term commitment to the American Province’s Perpetual Mass Association Program.’