Florence "Flo" Freedman

FREEDMAN Florence "Flo" Freedman, age 77, of Laurel Street, Morgantown, WV, died Saturday, February 28, 2009 at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Flo was born in New York, NY on February 15, 1932, the daughter of Minnie and Bernard Joelson. She was married to Ben Freedman, a native of New Orleans, in 1953. She received her Bachelor's degree with a major in Education at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and her Master's degree in Education at West Virginia University. Mrs. Freedman began her long and dedicated teaching career in 1954 at the American Army School in Munich, Germany while her husband Ben was on a Fulbright Fellowship. When her husband finished his graduate work in painting at the University of Arizona in Tucson, they moved to Morgantown in 1957. Flo first taught at an elementary school in Greer, West Virginia and then went on to teach primary grades in Monongalia County including Easton, Riverside, and North Elementary. Mrs. Freedman was an innovative educator in the Monongalia County School system for more than thirty years. She also founded the Morgantown Day School. Flo treasured all of her teaching experiences, but the ones with the gifted program at North Elementary during the 1980's always had special meaning for her. She retired from her teaching career in 1990. Mrs. Freedman, a member of the National Association of the Advanced of Colored People (NAACP) was active in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's when she participated in the successful efforts of the NAACP to integrate the restaurants on High Street. Throughout her adult life Flo and Ben enjoyed travels to Western Europe including England, Italy, and especially France, where she and Ben spent many summers on the Normandy coast as guests of their good friends Jean-Michel and Francoise. In Morgantown, Flo was known for her generous hospitality, imaginative gift giving, legendary parties, memorable cooking and her wonderful sense of humor. Flo won the affection of children and friends over many decades. Flo and Ben Freedman were avid collectors of West African Art and American antiques. During their retirement, she and her husband developed a spectacular garden that was featured on the Morgantown community garden tour on May 29, 2005. Flo Freedman is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Ben Freedman, her brother Richard Joelson, and her sister-in-law, Ruth Freedman Schwam. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Lynn Joelson and a brother, Jack Joelson. Cremation Services will be provided by Hastings Funeral Home. Inurnment will be held in New Orleans later this year. On April 5, 2009 there will be a memorial event in Morgantown, WV exact time and location to be announced. Donations may be made in memory of Flo Freedman to Tender Loving Care Home Care and Hospice of Morgantown, West Virginia. Condolences may be sent online to www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.