Imogene Anne Freer

Daughter of Stella and Roy Moffett, Imogene grew up in her parents’ confectionery shops and later, rooming houses, in and around downtown Detroit. She sang on Uncle Nick’s radio show (WJBK), and graduated from Central High School in 1942. She went on to work at Hudson’s department store and Detroit Bank & Trust before meeting “that nice Jimmy Freer” in 1943. They married in 1946.

Together with Jim, Imogene raised four children: Linda, Mark, Pat, and Sally, built homes and pioneered small businesses, including the Dairy Barn in Hartland, MI., where their children and several of their children’s friends worked. Many people looked to Imo and Jim as “Mom” and “Dad” Freer, and they continuously opened their home to mentor others in the Christian faith, ministering through Bible study, meals and fellowship.

Mom Freer was an active, feisty woman who took care of those around her, whether that meant taking bread to her neighbor after church, cooking meals, sending cards, or just giving a hug or an affirming word, like, “God loves you and so do I.” She was as universally known for her sweet way of engaging with others as for her sharp observations and memory. She enjoyed traveling with Jim, crafting with her “circle,” and cooking. She loved to be outside and would kneel to pull weeds in her garden and play with her great-grandchildren until she was 96. A multi-faceted person, Imogene was creative and mathematical; she enjoyed arranging flowers and sewing as much as she enjoyed doing math in her head to balance her checkbook. After Jim’s passing, she continued to pull the family together for Thanksgiving, birthday dinners, and church services--though, as her granddaughter reflected, “she let family be a broad term that included everyone.” Everyone is going to miss you, Mom: we “love you more.”

Imogene is survived by her children: Linda (Carl), Mark (Lucille), Pat, and Sally (Jeff), her grandchildren: Jeremy, Ryan, Sarah, Jason, Nicole (Jacob), Amanda (Joseph), Jeffrey, and Jessica, and her great-grandchildren: Emily, Phillip, Hunter, Beatrice, Olivia, Leonardo, Madison, Vivien, and Cooper, as well as her sister-in-law, Janet Maynard, many nieces, nephews and “sons and daughters” in the faith.

A visitation will be held at Imogene’s church, Grace Christian Fellowship in Livonia, MI., on Friday, Oct. 22nd from 4pm to 8pm. and Saturday, Oct. 23rd from 10am to11am. A Memorial Service will be held at Grace Christian Fellowship, located at 29520 Munger St. in Livonia, MI. on Saturday, Oct. 23rd at 11:00am with lunch following.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Freer family.