Our beloved mother, Freda, passed away peacefully on September 25th, 2023, at the age of 86, at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island, BC following a heart attack and other complications related to the passage of time. She is now reunited with her husband of 57 years, Edward James Linstead, who predeceased her less than one year ago, on November 14th, 2022.

Freda’s final days were spent in the hospice suite at Lady Minto, in the company of her son, David Linstead, her son-in-law Steve Lam, both residing on Salt Spring Is, and her daughter, Lorraine Linstead, from Merewether, NSW, Australia. The exceptional care provided by the Lady Minto staff brought much comfort to Freda in her last days. Freda’s memory lives on through her son, Sean Linstead, and his wife, Emi Furutani, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Freda was born in 1936 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. She was the 4th of 10 children, with an older sister, also named Freda, her namesake. Freda the 1st was born 13th October 1928 and died during the “Christmas season” of 1929, in Germany, likely of influenza. In fact, Freda’s life story finds its beginning seven years previous to her birth...

In 1929, fifteen members of the “Ritter” family, Germans living in Siberia, were forced to flee the countryside to escape Stalin's brutal campaign against rural peasants and farmers. The desperate family made the perilous, epic journey across Russia, first landing in Germany and then on to England. Finally, in 1930, they found refuge in Canada and settled in the town of Macklin, Saskatchewan.

By 1937, the Ritters had established themselves on a piece of land near Kerrobert, Saskatchewan and courageously took on the challenges of prairie farming. However, Freda's father, Clemens, an entrepreneur at heart, undertook numerous business ventures which resulted in the family having to move several times throughout the province. Clemens’ early businesses included The Star Cafe in Meadow Lake, another cafe in North Battleford, and the purchase of an apartment building with flats to let.

Luck wasn’t on the Ritter’s side, and the apartment building tragically burned down. However, the resilient family relocated to the Red Pheasant Indian Reserve near Cando, where they operated a General Store and the Post Office. Unable to settle down for long, a constant source of frustration for Freda’s mother, Bertha (nee Oberdorfer), in 1946 Freda's father uprooted the Ritter clan yet again, briefly to North Battleford, then to Cold Lake where Clemens purchased a hotel and a second-hand store. In 1949, the Ritters made their final collective move to the big city of Edmonton, Alberta, where they ran a garage and a trucking company.

It was in Edmonton, in 1951, where Freda formed a deep and enduring friendship with high school classmate Muriel Stone, nee Mackay, one that would last over 70 years! Freda became an integral part of Muriel’s family, sharing Sunday dinners (which always included Lebanese dishes, like kibbe, that Freda came to adore) and attending festive gatherings where there was always lots of laughter and singing. Muriel married Jim Stone and introduced him and their three children into Freda’s life: a blessing beyond measure.

After completing their high school education, Freda and Muriel pursued nursing careers at Misericordia Hospital Nursing School in Edmonton, forming lasting bonds with other nurses-in[1]training, including Grace Yaremko, Shirley Hancock and Bernice O’Neill. Her early years as a nurse brought Freda one of her most cherished life experiences: a year at Le’ahi Hospital in Honolulu. The exotic, tropical backdrop of the Hawaiian Islands proved to be a rich period of adventure, friendship and unforgettable moments – and instilled in Freda a life-long passion for travel.

Freda continued to expand her nursing expertise when, in 1959, now 23 years old, she accepted a position at Immaculata Hospital in Westlock, Alberta. During this time, she resided with her brother Roy and her beloved sister-in-law, Joyce. A remarkable, vibrant woman, Joyce was a constant source of fascination and inspiration to Freda. Years later, after Roy had passed, Joyce would join Freda and Ed on several of their world travel adventures, adding her brilliance and wit to each step of the journey.

Another one of Freda’s early travel experiences was on a European tour organized by a young University of Alberta student Ed Linstead in 1964. It was on the plane over to Paris that Ed and Freda met for the first time; however, it would be several months before they would meet again. As fate would have it, a few months later, Freda was working in Kitimat, BC – and so was Ed! He had been contracted by Atco Oil as part of their surveying team. A mutual friend invited them each to a dinner party, and that was where they rekindled their connection. On July 17th, 1965, Freda and Edward exchanged vows at St Agnes Church in Edmonton, Alberta, marking the beginning of a married partnership that spanned six decades.

Freda and Ed settled in Calgary where David was born in 1966 and Lorraine in 1968. Ed landed a position with A&W’s head office in Winnipeg, so the family made the move to Manitoba, where Sean was born in 1969. Finding the frigid, snowy winters of Winnipeg to be more than they could handle, Freda and Ed were overjoyed when A&W moved their head office – and their family -- to the balmy West Coast in 1971.

The move out west contained a further blessing. Freda’s best friend, Muriel, whom she missed very much, had moved with her husband and three children to the coast only a few months previously. Both families settled in Burnaby, BC. This serendipitous development enabled Muriel and Freda to renew their friendship and cemented the bond between the two families.

Later that same year, Freda and Ed purchased a new home in Port Moody, BC. Their years in College Park, a typical middle-class suburban neighbourhood, were characterized by the joys and trials of raising their children. Freda was actively involved in Girl Guides, shuffling kids from school to piano lessons, lacrosse, hockey and swim lessons. Even though she continued to work full time as a nurse, somehow Freda found time to join local booster clubs, curl with Ed at the community centre -- and even host memorable birthday parties for the kids and popular Boxing Day open house events for the adults.

Freda was well liked in the community for her kindness, sweet disposition and generosity. She was someone people could count on and so she easily formed meaningful friendships with many of the neighbours. There was always a seat at the family table for neighbourhood kids to stay for dinner.

During this period (and throughout her lifetime), Freda cherished visits from her beloved siblings and their spouses and children who would come from Alberta and Vancouver Island and stay as guests in their home. They also hosted a diverse array of visitors from abroad that she and Ed encountered during their extensive travels.

Freda and Ed would make annual summer trips to Alberta and around BC to visit relatives. Freda enjoyed the lively conversations and infections laughter typical of Ritter family gatherings. One year, in December, 1978, they even braved the treacherous, snowy conditions of Highway One, and drove through the Rockies with 3 kids in the car to spend Christmas at Andy and Clara’s in Calgary!

Life in College Park in the 1970’s and 80’s also provided the backdrop for Freda to discover yet another “family” for herself at Royal Columbian Hospital, where she worked for more than 20 years in the Operating Room as a scrub nurse. Those years were the most fulfilling of her professional life. Freda considered it a great privilege to work alongside a committed, tireless team of nurses and doctors as they collectively met the life and death challenges of a busy big city operating room.

Freda looked forward to every social event with her nursing friends, from birthday parties to retirement celebrations for the colleagues who she respected and loved. But her favourite event of the social year was, by far, the fun-filled, hilarious, musical skit nights where her beautiful voice always landed her a big singing role.

In 1990, when Ed got a job in the town of Duncan on Vancouver Island, Freda took a position in the OR at the Cowichan District Hospital. Now that they were empty-nesters, Freda and Ed took the opportunity to travel across Canada, the United States and Europe. They became even more adventurous as they explored more distant destinations in Asia, Australia and South America, experiencing the beauty of the world by plane, train, cruise ship and automobile.

Finally in 2002, Freda and Ed made their final move together to a high-rise condominium in uptown New Westminster where the old Woodward’s department store used to be. Freda loved the well-established neighbourhood, and would take a walk each day, thoroughly enjoying the tree-lined streets and majestic old homes with their stunning gardens.

Freda became a well-known presence at Century House, the local community centre in New Westminster where she volunteered in several capacities and shared her gift of song as a cherished member of the choir. Not only did she lend her voice to the harmonies, but she also organized the music as the choir librarian. Freda’s final move was to Braehaven, an assisted living residence on Salt Spring Island, BC, in August of 2023. She enthusiastically sang in the singing groups there and quickly made many new friends. We only wish that her time on Salt Spring, and in this world, could have been longer.

May Freda’s melodious spirit continue to soar in the heavens for all eternity!

A Celebration of Life will be held in honour of Freda

Saturday October 7th, 2023, 1:00 pm.

Columbia-Bowell Chapel, 219 Sixth Street, New Westminster, BC.

A reception with food and beverages will be held following the service.

*Freda was a vibrant, stylish woman. Please feel free to wear colour at this event!