Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
UPCOMING SERVICE
Frayda Bluestein Obituary
Frayda was born August 22, 1959 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to parents Gene and Ellie Bluestein. She was the youngest of four children – the little sister to three big brothers. The family landed in Fresno, California in 1963 when Gene started teaching at Fresno State. Music was at the heart of many family adventures, with the Bluestein Family band deeply connected to the west coast folk music community. They performed together locally and around the world. Pete Seeger likened her strong and clear singing voice to a drop of dew.
She first attended Mills College and then transferred to and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. She started law school at U.C. Davis, where she met the love of her life, John Cullen. John accepted a faculty position at NC State, which inspired Frayda to move across the country and finish law school in Chapel Hill. She worked in private practice and for the state legislature for several years before joining the UNC Institute (now School) of Government faculty in 1991. As a revered faculty member, she became a sought-after expert in foundational areas of state and local government law. She was a trusted mentor and advisor to colleagues, students, and to hundreds of government officials across the state of North Carolina.
Frayda and John welcomed their daughter, Rachel, in 2000 and made their home together in Chapel Hill surrounded by beautiful gardens tended by Frayda as well as goats, dogs, cats, and various reptiles primarily tended by John. They developed a large and strong network of devoted friends and loved hosting dinners and gatherings together at their home. A room in the home was always overflowing with fabric scraps and yarn as Frayda planned out her next beautiful baby quilt gift or colorful scarf.
In addition to John and Rachel, Frayda is survived by her three older brothers, Joel Bluestein of Arlington, Virginia and Evo and Jem Bluestein of Clovis, California and their families as well as in-laws Barbara Hill of Cary, North Carolina and Joanne Cullen of Four Oaks, North Carolina and Phillip Cullen of Denmark, Maine and their families.
The family will host a celebration of life on Tuesday, November 11 at 4 p.m. at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to The Aphasia Project (https://www.aphasiaproject.org/donate/) or the Frayda S. Bluestein Scholarship Fund for Municipal and County Administration (https://go.unc.edu/Cp5x9).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Frayda Bluestein
Funeral services provided by:
Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill11680 US Highway 15 501 N, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Memories and Condolences
for Frayda Bluestein
Sponsored by Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.
16 Entries
Robert W Jarnagin
September 2, 2025
The Bluestein family. So much love, so much talent. Frayda...I have so many fond memories of you sharing a classroom with me. Who was the teacher, the student?
I'm smiling now. Thank you, Bluesteins. Bob J.
Lawrence Artenian
September 2, 2025
My condolences to Frayda's family. My friendship with Frayda, her brothers, and her parents goes back to when we were kids in Fresno. I know the loss of this genuine, brilliant, and talented soul leaves a profound void for all whose lives she touched. May she rest in peace.
John Proudian
August 27, 2025
I was so sorry to hear of Frayda's passing.
I have so many fond memories of her, and the whole family.
She was a delight to have in my classroom. My heartfelt condolences. John Proudian
Sherri Zann Rosenthal
August 23, 2025
I don't know what heaven is like. However, I like to imagine that Frayda was greeted by her parents and Judith Wegner.
Martha Harris
August 23, 2025
I loved Frayda as a friend and colleague. I am so sorry to learn that she is gone. My heart goes out to John and the rest of her family.
Thierry Olivry
August 23, 2025
From the first days of our move to Raleigh in 1994, Frayda and John took care of us, inviting us repeatedly to wonderful dinners in their homes (and trailer in between). I will always remember Frayda as one of the most eloquent person I ever met as well as a great humanist - and yes, as written in her obituary, she had a wonderful sense of humour. She will be greatly missed. Here is a photo from 2003, during one of our many vacations together.
Dave Simpson
August 23, 2025
What an amazing person and resource, starting back in 1989 with Frayda, along with Jake Wicker, helping keep local governments and businesses like Carolinas AGC on the fair and right track legally. What a class act and sad losss.
Marie Inserra
August 22, 2025
Frayda was a brilliant lawyer, gifted teacher and an amazing resource to local governments lawyers in this State. I am one of those lawyers that turned to her Board expertise and legal acumen more than I can count. I always looked forward to her presentations at UNC SOG because she made all of us in local government better lawyers. I still reference and turn to her many written pieces in the UNC SOG blog. My heart goes out to her family at her home and her work, and to all of us lucky enough to have benefited from her counsel. She is sorely missed.
Norma Houston
August 21, 2025
We all know that Frayda, John, and Rachel shared a rare and magical bond. Here are a few memories of how I saw Frayda´s love for them shine through in small ways that spoke volumes:
The wallpaper on her office computer was always a picture of John and Rachel, smiling broadly. The picture might change from time to time, but it was always of them.
When Frayda would tell me the story of her courtship with John, her face softened, the years melted away, and she transformed into that beautiful young woman who fell in love with him and he with her all those years ago. No matter how many times she told me the story, the effect on her was always the same. I think she fell in love with John all over again every time.
She shared with such joyous delight and glowing pride each and every one of Rachel´s accomplishments. From college admission to cooking dinner, if her Rachel did it, it was amazing.
Frayda would recount the highlights of every family trip with an almost childlike wonder, not of the wondrous sites they saw or incredible food they ate, but that she experienced all that with her family.
And speaking of pride in her family, she had such respect and admiration for John´s brilliant career. Over the years, I learned a great deal about tumors on fish lips and reptile diseases, all of which she conveyed with as much genuine enthusiasm as if she were one of John´s students. She was his biggest fan.
John and Rachel, you were her greatest joy. You filled her heart. We are holding you close in ours.
Hon. Ronald W Sparks, PE
August 21, 2025
She was a very capable person. A great resource and expert. You could always give her a call when you were stumped.
Jean Leavenworth
August 21, 2025
The last time I saw Frayda she was visting Portland, OR with her mom Ellie. I still think of her from our childhood in Fresno and remember what fun we had dressing up for things like the Children's Parade. My heart goes out to friends and family!
Sheila Almond
August 21, 2025
Frayda was an amazing instructor for the government purchasing training I attended. It is very sad to hear of her passing, and my prayers are with all friends and family. God bless you all.
Ken Noland
August 21, 2025
One of my fondest memories of Frayda involved her singing at an MPA class picnic back in 1998. Great educator and an even better person. She will be missed.
Natalie Leavenworth
August 21, 2025
She was a really beautiful person in every way.
Norma Houston
August 21, 2025
Frayda was my friend, colleague, and mentor long before I joined the School of Government faculty. I have so many treasured memories - her brilliant smile, her rich laughter, her generous hugs, her wicked sense of humor, her keen legal mind, her patient tutelage of my teaching and writing skills (which barely held a candle to hers), and most of all, her authentic, unconditional generosity and friendship.
One of my fondest memories among so many others is this: For years, Frayda and I traveled the state together for teaching engagements (if you want to know true fear, try co-teaching with a living legend!) Our tradition was that I drove, and she knitted. One year we crisscrossed the state so much that she knitted an entire scarf from start to finish which she gave to me as a memento of our road trips. I still have it and will cherish it all the more now. Even more so, I will cherish the many long hours of conversation, advice, and laughter.
Frayda, thank you for your magnificent spirit which still fills us. Thank you for dipping into your endless reservoir of generosity time and time again without hesitation. Thank you for giving us your zest for life. Thank you for living a life of service. Thank you for embodying compassion and integrity. Thank you for showing us all what unconditional friendship really means. Thank you for being you.
And to John and Rachel: Thank you both sharing Frayda with us. All of us who she touched are far better people for having her in our lives.
With love,
Norma
Showing 1 - 16 of 16 results
Make a Donation
in Frayda Bluestein's name
How to support Frayda's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Frayda Bluestein's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
