CAROLINE ANN FREIBAUER

1961 - 2022

FREIBAUER, CAROLINE ANN Caroline Freibauer was born May 21, 1961, in Women's College Hospital in Toronto to Marilyn (nee Reindl) and Edward Freibauer and passed away on July 31, 2022, in Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, surrounded by love and friendship, after her second bout with cancer. Caroline's 33-year marriage to Salvatore (Sam) Colaiacovo produced the best daughters that any parent could ask for. Natalie was born in 1990, and Samantha followed in 1992. One of Caroline's goals this year was to celebrate Samantha's wedding to Nathan Bakker on April 30. Goal accomplished. Caroline was a natural leader, which became evident at St. Robert's Catholic High School, the first secondary school in the York Catholic District School Board when it opened in 1975. Caroline served as president of the first graduating class, created and ran numerous clubs and proudly wore the title of Polka Queen. Caroline bestowed upon her daughters a love of learning. In fact, Caroline would say she was all about continuous learning. After graduating with a journalism degree from Carleton University, Caroline worked at The Brantford Expositor. Looking for different challenges, she became a freelance writer, helped manage an independent bookstore and sold educational software. When that wasn't enough, she decided, at 40, to return to school to become a teacher. Upon graduation from Brock University, she began her career as an English teacher. She worked at each of the three high schools in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic School Board: St. John's College, Assumption College and Holy Trinity Catholic High School. Caroline later became a teacher-librarian, a role she embraced for its potential to support the whole student. She continued her career in September 2020, when she became head librarian at St. Michael's College School in Toronto. Caroline's commitment to libraries was underscored by her years of volunteer work with the Brantford Public Library board, the Ontario School Library Association, for which she wrote for and edited the Teaching Librarian magazine, the Association of Library Co-ordinators of Ontario and the Canadian School Library Association. In addition to her husband and daughters, Caroline is survived by her parents and by younger brother, Ed; his wife, Miriam; and their sons, Alexander (Ellie) and Matthew (Landon). She is also loved by Sam's parents, Laura and Michele; and younger brother, Mario; his wife, Lisa; and their sons, Anthony and Domenic. Caroline will be missed by extended family members in Canada, Germany, the U.S. and Italy. Caroline found joy in taking her kayak onto Crystal Lake in the Kawarthas, where her father built a cottage, in hitting balls with friends at the Dufferin Tennis Club, in cycling with colleagues and friends and in working out at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. Caroline embraced her husband's heritage by volunteering with the Maria Ss. Della Libera Society, which celebrates the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Italian village of Pratola Peligna. Oh, and she loved to read, which she demonstrated by filling shelf upon shelf with books and by her commitment to multiple book clubs. Over the past year, Caroline faced her diagnosis with determination, courage and grace, while always keeping a positive outlook and her sense of humour. Her journey was marked by an extraordinary kindness shown by family and friends too numerous to mention. Her spirits were buoyed by visits, deliveries of flowers and meals, invitations for walks and regular foot rubs. The family would like to thank all the health-care aides, nurses and doctors who tenderly cared for Caroline. Friends will be received at Toll Funeral Home, 55 Charing Cross St., Brantford, on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 3:45 p.m. for Vigil Prayers and Visitation from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Church, 9 Waverly St., Brantford, on August 6, at 11 a.m., with cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, Caroline suggests that donations be made to the Brantford Public Library. "Sweet Caroline Good times never seemed so good"