Freda D. Rohloff

April 6, 1936 — August 21, 2018

Freda Kathryn Dressner Rohloff, 82, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2018 after living with Alzheimer’s for many years. The relatives and friends of Freda Rohloff are invited to attend her Funeral Service 11:00 AM Saturday, September 1, 2018 at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Hwy., Charleston. The family will greet friends 30 minutes before the service. Burial will take place the following week in Rhode Island.

Freda was born on April 6, 1936 in Jackson, Kentucky to Robert and Mattie (Cade) Dressner. Her family moved to Providence, Rhode Island when she was 4, and that is where she grew up, helping her mother run a boarding house out of their home. She married her first husband, John P. Rutkevicz Jr., and raised her family in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Freda was a kind and devoted wife and mother who loved her children, and also loved every animal and creature. She was a girl scout leader; raised an orphaned baby squirrel; and performed CPR on her son’s chameleon. Freda was also an amazing seamstress, gifted craftsman, and a talented artist. She loved learning about and creating every craft she discovered … quilting, weaving, sculpting, knitting, oil painting, stained glass, pottery, needlepoint, she sewed all her own and her children’s clothing, and more … everyone always loved the beautiful work she created.

Freda gave a large part of her life to caring for her teenage son, who was hit by a drunk driver and left with blindness and a traumatic brain injury, from which he never fully recovered. She cared for him at home while he was in a coma, and nursed him for many years until he was able to walk and talk again. After her children were grown, Freda decided to attend the Community College of Rhode Island and earned her Associate’s Degree in Computer Science.

Freda enjoyed working as a computer programmer for Peter Cotton before meeting her second husband, Robert H. Rohloff, and they moved to Charleston, South Carolina to begin their life together. They loved to square dance and travel, taking several trips to Europe, and a few cruises. They also loved exploring Charleston … the gardens, plantations, and houses … and frequently acted as Docents for the historical house tours in Downtown Charleston.

Freda is survived by her husband of 29 years, Robert H. Rohloff; her 2 daughters, Lauren A. Poe, along with her husband, Daniel J. Poe Jr., and Kristen M. Rutkevicz. She also leaves behind 2 step-sons, Richard Rohloff with his wife Deborah, and William Rohloff with his wife Lisa. Freda has 9 grandchildren: Jason Poe, Andrew Poe with his wife Deborah, Colby Poe, Daria Poe, Sierra Fetzer, Calle Fetzer, Katherine Rohloff, Ava Rohloff, and Alec Rohloff. Freda’s only sibling, Barbara Mills, predeceased her in 2016, and her only son, John P. Rutkevicz III, predeceased her earlier this year in 2018.

The week following Freda’s Funeral Service in Charleston, South Carolina, her ashes will be taken to Rhode Island and placed at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island after a brief service there.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions in her name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org , or your favorite charity for animals … Freda loved all animals.

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