William F. Freeling Jr.

1938 - 2021

William F. Freeling, Jr. was born on December 31, 1938 and called home by his Heavenly Father on August 31, 2021, at the age of 82. Billy is survived by Bernadette, his lifelong partner and loving wife of nearly 65 years; his children, William F. Freeling, III, Sharon Freeling Sahuque (Dennis), and Robert David Freeling, Sr. (Lisa); his sister, Ann Freeling Tamplain (Craig, deceased); and his niece Shannon Gervais and nephew Sean Gervais. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Leslie Freeling Sander (Joseph, deceased), and his parents, Octavia Vidrine Freeling and William F. Freeling, Sr. Billy was adored and will be forever missed by his grandchildren, Richard Peart, Randy Peart, Robert David Freeling, Jr. (Laurie), Danielle Sahuque, Nicole Freeling, Michelle Sahuque Hurd (Aaron), Jennifer Freeling, Arielle Freeling, Ryan Freeling (Kassi), Victoria Freeling, and Miles Freeling; and his great-grandchildren, Cameron, Brittany, Richard, Aden, Gabriel, Leslie, Aubrey, Jaylen, Addison, Alice, August, Broden, Adley, Huxley, Olivia, Chloe, Knox, Jeremiah, and Jaida. He also leaves to cherish his memory two beloved sisters-in-law, whom he considered sisters, Gail Millet (Alvin) and Ann Viator (Robert), his brother-in-law, Jerry Meyer, and their families. Billy was born in New Orleans and attended Jesuit High School. He was a mechanic by trade and retired from American Can Company in 1979, after which he pursued his true calling and became a full-time commercial fisherman. He was affectionately known as Captain Bill and fished for many years out of Venice, Louisiana, on his boat "Hickory Wind," which he lost in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Afterwards, he enjoyed spending time with his sons and grandsons fishing at Hodges Gardens and surf-fishing on the beaches of Alabama and Florida during family vacations. Billy's greatest pleasures were being with his family, eating out, spending time in his yard sitting under his gazebo with a cup of coffee, reading books, and taking his daily walks in Lafreniere Park. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 4921 West Metairie Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana, where Billy was a parishioner for 52 years, on Friday, October 1, 2021. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass at noon. As mandated by the State of Louisiana due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a face mask must be worn. In lieu of flowers, masses preferred.