Freada Zickefoose

Freada Marcella Zickefoose passed away Tuesday evening September 9,2025 at Sycamore Run Nursing Home. She was 88 years old. She was born in Millersburg, Ohio on Thanksgiving Day; November 26, 1936, to the late Carl B. and Leona (Gilt) Weaver. She attended a local one room schoolhouse until 4th grade, then attended Millersburg school and high school. She married Russel Zickefoose on November 25,1955.

Freada was a long-time volunteer at the Holmes County Historical Society and Victorian House Museum. She enjoyed helping with the soup suppers and talking with the visitors that came to tour the museum. She and her husband Russell were honored to serve as the Grand Marshals of the Holmes County Antique Festival and were Historical Society Volunteers of the year in 2006. She had a passion for decorating, especially at Christmas time. She Decorated at The Victorian House, where she shared her talent and love of the Victorian Christmas Style. Her Husband helped her decorate a room every year for Christmas, leading to her decorating the Brightman Parlor. This endeavor led to many of the children and grandchildren helping Freada decorate the room as a seasonal family event. In 2015 She was thrilled to be part of the movie "Love finds you in Valentine" filmed in Millersburg and Sugarcreek. You will find her in the scene filmed inside the Victorian House.

She had a soft spot in her heart for all God's creatures. Many pets came into her life over the years. She would always take in ones that needed extra love and care and somehow, they always found her. No stray would ever go hungry if it happened to end up on her doorstep. Freada always had food for hungry birds in the middle of winter and trudged through the snow to fill their feeders. Any hummingbird that wasn't full after visiting her flowers found several feeders hanging on the porch.

Freada was always humming or singing and often had music playing in the background. She spoke fondly of singing with her father as a child and their favorite song was "You are my Sunshine". She had many fond memories of being in choir and performing in high school. Freada was a homemaker most of her life. She worked part time at Seaman Corporation and Critchfield law firm after her children were grown. She spent many hours watching her children and grandchildren at numerous sporting events during every season. Also attending many band, choir concerts, and musicals. She enjoyed watching the Cleveland Indians on T.V. and was lucky enough to attend several games in person with family. Omar Vizquel was her all-time favorite player.

She was a quiet, sweet soul who always loved having her family nearby. Many Sunday afternoons were spent laughing, playing games in the yard, and eating the food she made for everyone. Most family members were in attendance, as this became an event no one wanted to miss. Then when the weather turned cold, card games were played around the kitchen table and many "pig eating cakes" and cherry delights were served, no leftovers survived. She enjoyed working in her many flower gardens and loved her time spent gardening. She was delighted when friends, family or the occasional neighbor would drop by, and she could walk them through her gardens, sharing their beauty. Freada was a long-time member of the Holmes County Fair Flower Committee were she also volunteered many hours of Russell's time on numerous projects, where he truly enjoyed helping her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Helen (Weaver) Zickefoose and Faye (Weaver) Hoffman and infant Sister Bessie, Brother-in-law Bill Harner. Sister Geri (Weaver) Harner survives. She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years; Russell J Zickefoose. Together, they had four children. Connie (Donnie) Haga of Orrville, Jeffrey Zickefoose, David (Linda) Zickefoose and Joan (Jamie) Darr, all of Millersburg. Six grandchildren, Jeremy Manson, Josh Manson, Ryan Zickefoose, Calihan (Delbert) Dixon, Logan (Matt) Rucki and Lane (Paiten) Darr. Four Great-grandchildren, Isabella Manson, Louden Dixon, Audrey Dixon, Bennett Darr and a new great-granddaughter is expected any day.

She will be truly missed by her husband and family who loved her dearly.

No funeral services will be held; a celebration of life will be held at a later date.