Dora “Dee” (Cook) Freeburn, 95, passed away Sunday, January 9th surrounded by her loving children. She was predeceased by her husband John Freeburn Sr. Dee was born and raised in Shrewsbury, the daughter of the late Amelia (Schneider) and Clarence Cook. She leaves her children Kathy, Amy, Linda and husband Stephen “Skits” Manna, John and wife Mary; grandchildren Jennifer and husband Peter Lemack, Allison and husband David Baker and John and partner Carmen Solari, as well as the newest light of her life, great grandson Owen Baker. Dee also leaves a cousin Norman Schneider whom she always thought of as a younger brother, many nieces and nephews along with many “bonus” children who considered her “Mom” (they know who they are). In addition to her husband and parents she was predeceased by her sister Margaret “Betty” Bigelow.

Dee raised her family in Worcester, was a Cub Scout den mother, and led a 4H group where she taught knitting while managing to shuffle four children with diverse interests to various music lessons, club meetings, and church activities. Until he fell ill, John Sr. and Dee enjoyed square dancing and the beautiful matching dresses and shirts they wore were handmade by Dee.

Dee attended Clark University in the first year women were admitted, then transferred and graduated from Tufts School of Occupational Therapy. Dee was an OTR at Westborough State, Worcester State and Rutland State Hospitals for many years as well as simultaneously serving as consultant at various nursing homes and Easter Seals where she ran the Stroke Survivors Group.

Upon retiring Dee continued her service to others through her many volunteer jobs. She completed the Master Gardener program at Tower Hill Botanical Society and continued on as a volunteer docent. She took great pride when she saw spring photos of the daffodil garden, since she helped plant some of the hundreds of bulbs. Dee also served as a volunteer docent for Preservation Worcester and New England Science Center (now Ecotarium), taught ESL, and was a hospice volunteer and clown as well.

Dee was a woman of great faith and, while a member of Lake View Congregational Church, served many positions over the years including, Sunday school teacher, Treasurer and Deacon. She attended Andover Newton Seminary School to become a supervisor to the pastoral students serving at Lake View. After transferring to Greendale Peoples Church later in life, she still stayed active and enjoyed knitting prayer shawls and wrote notes to shut-ins as part of the Caring Committee. Dee always believed church doors open OUT for a reason – to serve the community and each other — and that is how she lived her life. Truly a life well lived.

It was Dee’s wish to donate her body to the Anatomical Gift Program of Boston University School of Medicine.

Memorial Donations can be made in Dee’s honor to the Food Pantry at Greendale People’s Church, 25 Francis St, Worcester 01606 or NEADS World Class Service Dogs Program, P.O. Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541 or online by visiting NEADS.org/donate.