Frieda Vanfleet

Frieda (Boerner) VanFleet Of Susquehanna, PA Frieda (Boerner) VanFleet, 95, a lifelong resident of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on February 5 surrounded by her family. She was born in the family home on Boyden Street (Oakland) on July 3, 1924 to Howard Boerner and Minnie (Griffis) Boerner. She is also predeceased by her brother, Frederic Boerner, also a lifelong resident of Susquehanna. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of more than 68 years, Robert VanFleet (96), daughter Risë VanFleet and her husband, Mark Zarichansky (Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania), son Craig VanFleet and his wife, Lugene Critelli VanFleet (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), and granddaughter Melissa VanAllen and her husband Tyler VanAllen (also of Bethlehem). After high school, Frieda worked for ten years as an Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of Link Aviation prior to her marriage to Bob and the birth of her children. She later attended college and was a graduate of Bloomsburg University. With her dedication to her studies while simultaneously being a mother to her then-elementary-aged children, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in three years. She also earned a Master’s Degree from Marywood University. She was an eager and lifelong learner who loved history, English, and poetry. She was an avid reader and was always curious and interested in talking and learning about many diverse topics. She taught sixth grade in the Susquehanna Community School System from 1964 to 1990, mostly at Laurel Street Elementary School with a few years at Oakland Elementary. She truly cared about her students as individuals, and was attentive to all of them. She always appreciated effort and hard work more than grades. She had high expectations of her students because she wanted them to succeed in whatever they did in life, and even higher expectations of herself. Those who have known Frieda would likely agree that she was inquisitive, conscientious, kind, humble, independent, resilient, hard-working, playful, funny, and deeply caring. She appreciated nature and animals, and spent time outdoors nearly every day. She sang beautifully, although she didn’t think so. She knitted and crocheted beautiful sweaters, vests, and baby jackets, created countless cross-stitch art pieces, and took after her mother in sewing clothing for her husband, children, and grandchild. She was active in the community, playing a role in starting the Oakland Street Dances (inspired by a book she read) and helping with the development of the Oakland ballpark. She was a member of the Susquehanna United Methodist Church, and played behind-the-scenes roles in many other community projects. Private services will be held at Hennessey’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for Frieda VanFleet to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) of Barnes-Kasson, 2872 Turnpike Street, Susquehanna, PA 18847 (attention: Kylie Slocum).