Cecilia "Katie" V. Freund

     Cecilia "Katie" V. Freund died peacefully at Scandia Village on February 03, 2023, surrounded by special friends, music and prayer. She was born in Milwaukee, WI, to Jerome and Angeline (nee Beth) Van de Kamp on October 14, 1929, the eldest of their three daughters.

     As a young teen Katie entered the Sisters of the Divine Savior, where she became Sister Cecilia, named in honor of the Patron Saint of Music. As a Sister of the Divine Savior, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Alverno College and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. Katie taught English and Music at Divine Savior – Holy Angels High School, and later Music at Divine Savior Junior College in Milwaukee. She went on to be the Chairman of the Fine Arts Department for Mount St. Paul College in Waukesha, WI.

     Katie returned to secular life in 1969, focusing on studies at Northwestern University, where she earned a Ph.D. in Musicology, after completion of her two-volume dissertation on the Cantate da camera of Alessandro Scarlatti.

     In 1974, Katie married Nick Freund. They traveled to Europe multiple times for Katie to study Scarlatti in preparation for her thesis. They spent over 20 years in the Chicago area where she gave private keyboard lessons to youth and adults and was the organist at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, having been hired to make the parish “a singing church”. In 2000, Nick and Katie moved to Door County, a beloved vacation destination. Once in their new Bailey’s Harbor home, Katie began teaching piano. She was the organist at the Stella Maris Fish Creek site for 14 years. Early on she began a choir and welcomed all to pray through music. In addition, she was the organist and choir director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baileys Harbor.

     Although Katie left religious life, its impact never left her. She continued to encourage deep spirituality in others and practiced the discipline of prayer and meditation she had learned as a Sister. Katie loved good political discourse, nature, her cats, reading the New Yorker from cover to cover, poetry, theatre, musical performances and sharing her love of music. She reveled in a student’s joy of commanding a new piece of music and was proud of their hard work and successes. She inspired her students and choirs to make music throughout their lives.

     Katie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Nick, her two sisters and their husbands, Rita and Gordon Robertson and Phyllis and Richard Runde and sister-in-law Charlotte Korus. She is survived by her brothers-in-law and their wives, Daniel and Ruth Freund, and Victor and Katherine Freund, special niece Beth Leedom, special grandniece Kaitlyn Runde Kulseth, and close friends, Marcie Jennings, Julie Kudick, Becky Nash, Angela Packard and Linda Schwaller. Other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

     A Funeral Mass and celebration of Katie’s life will be held Friday, February 24, 2023, at Stella Maris Fish Creek site at 11:00 a.m. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

     Memorials in honor of Katie may be made to Birch Creek Music (P.O. Box 230, Egg Harbor, WI 54209), Midsummer’s Music, Ltd (10568 Country Walk Ln, Unit 43, Sister Bay, WI 54234), or the Stella Maris Liturgical Music Program (P.O. Box 49, 7710 Hwy 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209).

     Katie greatly appreciated all those who provided caring assistance to her while living at Scandia Village, especially Lori, RN.

     Casperson Funeral Home in Sister Bay, WI is assisting with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos may be shared on the tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.

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