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Nona Lee Frederich

Raymond-Nona Lee Frederich, wife of Dr. Robert C. Frederich, Sr., died at their home at 10 Martin Heights, Raymond on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at the age of eighty two after a lengthy illness. As an insulin dependent diabetic for nearly fifty years she became a pioneer for insulin infusion pump therapy. Her partnership with Senator Susan Collins in appealing to Medicare to cover that form of treatment lead to its becoming available to multiple thousands of senior citizen diabetics.
Nona was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Hjalmar and Beatrice Peterson. After graduating from Park High in Racine, Wisconsin she worked in the Massey Harris Tank Works restoring military tanks for the army.
She attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois where she met her husband, graduating with high honors in 1949. They were married that same week. Her education included graduate work in her chosen field of education in Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and California where she taught in the elementary schools of Los Angeles County.
During their years in California she was a part of the Old Fashioned Revival Hour Chorus singing weekly on both national and international radio and television ministry.
Nona Frederich was a quintessential pastor’s wife, integrally involved in her husband’s pastoral ministry over fifty years in churches in California, Illinois, Iowa, Colorado and Maine.
With her keen interest in education and her concern for inner city children and in conjunction with the Denver Public Schools and Galilee Baptist Church, Nona Lee launched and directed a children’s tutoring program in the heart of Denver’s notorious “Five Points” inner city area.
After the Frederichs moved to Portland’s First Baptist Church in 1989, Mrs. Frederich initiated a ministry with young mothers, which continues very actively to the present.
With all of her concern for children and their spiritual and academic education, her primary commitment was to her husband and their five children. Her eldest, Dr. Robert Frederich, Jr. works in drug research with Bristol Myers Squibb. Her daughter Karen, after twenty years of ministry in Mindanao, Philippines has for the past six years been in humanitarian work in China. Another daughter, Rev. Kristin Frederich pastors the First Presbyterian Church of Cambria, Wisconsin. Her son Peter, (Lt. Col. Ret) was most recently stationed in the Pentagon heading up the Family Life Ministry of the Army’s Chaplains. Her youngest son John chose to use the marketplace as his field of ministry and heads a financial practice in Pasadena, CA. Her children would all say of her, “To know her is to love her”. The love that she gave them however, not only built their lives and relationships, but was focused toward the Lord Jesus whom she loved inordinately with a love that they too learned to share and resulting in the shaping of their lives and vocations. She is also survived by her brother, Rev. Dr. Jack Peterson of San Antonio, TX.
Nona Lee was the devoted grandmother of fourteen grandchildren; Kristin Noel Hunt, Katherine , William, Katherine Smoot Bracht, Joel Smoot, Thomas Smoot, Joy Frederich, Bethany Frederich, Charles C. Frederich, Samuel Frederich, Anna Frederich, Joshua Frederich, Abigail Frederich and Caleb Frederich.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, October 12, 2008 from 6-9 pm at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland.
A Celebration of the Life and Faith of Nona Lee Frederich will be held at First Baptist Church, 360 Canco Road, Portland at 10 am, Monday, October 13, 2008. A committal service will be held on Monday, October 13 at 3 pm at the Moose Hill Cemetery in Livermore Falls, ME. Memorial gifts in Nona’s memory may be sent to The World Mission Fund of the First Baptist Church of Portland, ME.
You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Frederich Family by visiting Nona’s guest book at www.mem.com

Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home
199 Woodford St.
Portland, ME 04103
207-775-3763