May 5, 1914 — July 15, 2015

Thelma F. Fred, 101, of Niles, Michigan died at 5:52 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at the home of her granddaughter, unexpectedly but of natural causes.

She was born on May 5, 1914, in Naperville, Illinois to John and Marguerite (Brockman) Tutko. She attended the former Bertrand (Michigan) School and has lived here most of her life. She was employed in the former Niles plant of the Simplicity Pattern Company for 35 years.

Thelma had traveled throughout the United States with her family and friends, and had camped at the former Three Braves Campground near Buchanan, Michigan. She was well-known for her baking and cooking skills, and enjoyed completing word puzzles, reading biographies, and watching classic television shows, especially “The Waltons”.

On April 21, 1932 in Kankakee, Illinois she married Lowell M. Fred with whom she celebrated the forty-seventh anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on April 10, 1980. She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson, Joseph Eugene Martin; and by her brothers, infant Glenn, Elmer Lamond, and James Babcock, and sister Naomi Chilson.

Surviving family includes her children, Bernadine Nemeth, Lowell M. Fred, Jr., and Joann (Ernest) Martin, all of Niles, Gail (Karen) Fred of Berrien Center, and Brenda (James) Shearman of Niles; fifteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews including Ronda Losey.

The funeral service for Thelma Fred will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community Church in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at the graveside at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at Noon on Wednesday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Thelma may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.