Obituary of Freda Emily Selig

SELIG, Freda Emily (Frail) - After a feisty battle with cancer (and not as short as expected) it is with sadness that we announce the death of Freda Emily (Frail) Selig, 84 years old, of Bridgewater, NS. Freda grew up in the small village of Westfield, near Caledonia, NS. She was the only daughter among 6 children and shared many stories of their difficult home life that included times of violence and poverty. She made the bold move to Halifax at age 16 and began work at the IWK Children's Hospital where she earned her CNA certification. 

Her life was transformed when she became the wife of Carleton Selig of North Brookfield. Their love story includes Carleton’s construction accident and 2 month hospital stay, a Valentine’s Day proposal, and a year living apart. During their marriage, Freda and Carl lived in Truro and Chester, before settling in Bridgewater in 1968. Most recently it was important that they stayed together despite her illness and his dementia. In January 2024 they moved to Ridgewood Assisted Living Home together. No matter how bad a day was for one of them, they felt blessed when they could play crib together in the evening. 

Freda was an active member of the Bridgewater Baptist Church for over 50 years. She attended many church groups and participated in many church activities: Women’s Missionary Society, Bible Studies, Couples Club, yard sales, kitchen committee, child nursery volunteering. Freda loved to cook for others and many of her church and community activities revolved around food: church potlucks, funeral receptions, pumpkin pie sales, Sunday morning muffins and coffee, cookie sales, Bridgewater Community Christmas events. Freda also was an avid sewer. Her home and the church had numerous placemats, runners, tablecloths, and aprons made by Freda for various events and seasons. Freda worked outside the home as a Home Health Aide at MacKays Pharmacy in the Bridgewater Plaza. 

Freda is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Carleton Selig. Freda raised three children on homecooked meals: Lisa (Timothy) Chute of Bridgewater, Shelley (David) Moran of Bridgewater, Todd Selig of Bridgewater. Freda also doted on her four grandchildren: Brett (Kaleigh) Bennicke of Yarmouth; MacKenzie Selig of Bridgewater; Max (Madeleine Neufeld) Chute of Waterloo Ontario; Simon (Katrina) Chute of Waterloo, Ontario.  She is also survived by a large extended family, including sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Freda was predeceased by her parents Mark and Marguerite Frail of Westfield, Queens County, and all 5 of her brothers: Mark “Junior” (Erma) of Westfield; Charles (Mary) of North Brookfield; Russell (Elaine) of North Brookfield, Floyd (Linda) of Westfield; Rodney (Lynn) of Fall River. She was the oldest surviving member of her immediate family. She was also predeceased by her daughter-in-law Joanne (Merrett) Selig, sisters-in-law Pauline Koba, Barbara Selig, Dianne Blackburn, and Lynn Frail, and brother-in-law Donald Selig.

Freda and her family received incredible support and care from several community health organizations. Thank you to the staff of Ridgewood Assisted Living Home, the South Shore Area Palliative Care Team, NS Health Continuing Care, and VON. 

A Funeral service to honour the life and faith of Freda will be held 11 A.M., Tuesday, September 3^rd, 2024, in Bridgewater Baptist church, followed by a public reception to share condolences and stories of Freda with the family. A private family interment will be held at Brookside Cemetery, Bridgewater. Flowers accepted or donations in memory of Freda may be made to Bridgewater Baptist Church, 564 Glen Allen Drive, Bridgewater. Funeral arrangements for Freda have been entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater where online messages of condolence and online donations may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.