Obituary of Freda Yvonne Feely

Freda Yvonne Feely, 85, of Cohocton passed away Saturday November 18, 2023 at Noyes Hospital in Dansville after a lengthy illness. Freda was born in Bath, NY on January 29, 1938 the daughter of L. Merlyn and Dorothy (Smith) Fox. She grew up on the family farm on Michigan Hollow Road in Avoca and graduated valedictorian of the Avoca Central School Class of 1956. She briefly attended Elmira College before transferring to Broome Technical Community College where she obtained a degree in dental hygiene services. She began her career as a school hygienist in Addison then worked alongside her husband Dr. Francis Feely at his dental practice in Avoca. When Freda and “Doc” amicably divorced she began working at dental offices in Corning as well as a number of school districts in the Steuben County area providing dental hygiene interventions through a program funded through BOCES. Freda concluded her working career as a caseworker with the Steuben County Department of Social Services Foster Care and Adoption Unit. Freda was extremely devoted to her work and enjoyed these career fields because they directly had a positive impact on young people and families in need. Freda was very civically active having served as a committeewoman for the local republican club, a dutiful election volunteer, campaigner and petition carrier for those seeking office. She was a long serving member of the Cohocton Town and Village Planning Board and the Cohocton Public Library Board of Directors. Freda’s greatest joy was being a part of the lives of her children and grandchildren (and their friends) , especially the years she was able to gather them around the dining room table for Sunday morning breakfast. Freda was predeceased by her parents Merlyn and Dorothy, her ex-husband Doc Feely, her brothers, L. Stanley Fox, Roscoe Fox, and Lyle Fox, her niece Millie Johnson and dearest cousin Carol Davis. She is survived by her sons Walter (Wendy Heskell) of Cohocton, Jim (Heather) Feely of Wayland, her grandchildren Francis, Bradley, Amanda, Emily, Ashley, Olivia, Amelia and Isabella Feely, her great grandchildren Walter and Michelle Feely, her sister Merldene Friel of Eureka, CA, as well as several nieces and nephews. Freda’s family graciously requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be considered for the Cohocton Public Library, 8 Maple Avenue, Cohocton, NY 14826 or to the Cohocton Valley Ambulance, POBox 262, Cohocton, NY 14826