Catherine Anna "Katie" (O'Reilly) Freeland

Catherine Anna Freeland, known affectionately to her friends and family as "Katie", passed from this life peacefully on Monday, July 25, 2016 at Villa at the Bay.

Katie and her husband of 64 years, Richard, moved to Petoskey in 1993 after residing for many years in Ann Arbor and Saline. 

Katie was born on February 5, 1925 near Brutus to George and Caroline (Vick) O'Reilly.  She grew up in Brutus and attended Alanson High School.  At the time of her graduation our country was in the depths of the Second World War and at the encouragement of her sister, Katie moved to the Ann Arbor area where she found work at the King-Seeley Corporation; doing her part in the war effort helping to manufacture munitions.   A few years after the war while on a blind date, she met the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life, Richard Freeland.  The couple were wed on May 24, 1952 and made their home initially in Ann Arbor and together raising one daughter Patricia.  After Patti was grown, Katie went back to work, taking a job as a Secretary for Hudson's.  Eventually, as mentioned previously Katie and Richard retired to Petoskey.

Quiet but always warm and friendly, Katie was an easy person to like.  She was a kind and caring wife, mother and grandmother whose home was always filled with joy and love. 

Surviving Katie is her husband Richard, her daughter Patti Gullon and her granddaughter Courtney all of Petoskey.  Also surviving Katie are her siblings Frances Cargnino, Mary Marguerite Mourer and Terrence O'Reilly.  She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother George Michael O'Reilly Jr.

Katie's family plan to remember, honor and celebrate her life with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 29th, the service will be led by Fr. Dennis Stilwell.  Visitation will be held on Friday prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m.  Interment will take place in St. Francis Cemetery.

 Service Information