A life of giving celebrated in Falmouth
By Roberta Cannon
Marjorie Freeman of North Falmouth is a woman full of history with a giving heart, who has helped so many through her years of dedication to the community.
At 101 years old, she lives in the same home she and her late husband, Dana, built more than 60 years ago. It is a comfortable Cape Cod-style house with many knick knacks and memorabilia. Her husband had his own business as a painter and paper hanger, and some of the wallpaper he put up is still on the walls of their home.
Falmouth Hospital was another building Freeman was determined to help build more than 50 years ago, and she did it by soliciting donations.
“It dawned on me one day that people had to drive so far either to Wareham or Hyannis to go to the hospital,” she said. “If some older people had family in the hospital, they would have to drive so far to visit them. So I decided to start knocking on doors to ask people to contribute to money to build one in Falmouth.”
The Falmouth Hospital Auxiliary acknowledged Freeman’s efforts by honoring her at their annual meeting two years ago.
“Everybody was good to me, they appreciated what I did,” she said.
While she still drives, staying within a few miles of her home, she is involved with the St. Elizabeth Seton Church’s Women’s Guild and continues to attend meetings. She is on the Barnstable County Agricultural Society board of directors and volunteered for many years with her husband at the annual Barnstable County Fair. She used to be in charge of the fair’s plant exhibit and was instrumental in developing a souvenir shop for fair goers. She proposed the idea to the director who made arrangements for a tent to display and sell souvenirs the first year, and her husband built a building to house the items the next year.
Freeman’s efforts were recognized by the board in October 2016, when she was presented with a 30-year Service Recognition Award that she proudly displays in her dining room.
Other organizations have also benefited from Freeman’s volunteerism, like the North Falmouth Village Association, the Falmouth public schools, Megansett Grange, Mothers March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, and the Paul E. White Memorial Road Race.
“I handed out water bottles,” she said. Two years ago, she was honored with a ride in a 50th anniversary Ford Thunderbird at the head of the parade.
While she fondly reminisces about her past accomplishments, misses her husband and admits to a bit of forgetfulness at times, Freeman is amazed at the gratitude and honor shown to her two years ago at the Falmouth Hospital Auxiliary’s annual meeting.
She said she never gave volunteering a second thought.
“I kept myself busy, I just did it and forgot about it,” said Freeman.
Originally published on Cape Cod Health News, May 1, 2017
At 101 years old, she lives in the same home she and her late husband, Dana, built more than 60 years ago. It is a comfortable Cape Cod-style house with many knick knacks and memorabilia. Her husband had his own business as a painter and paper hanger, and some of the wallpaper he put up is still on the walls of their home.
Falmouth Hospital was another building Freeman was determined to help build more than 50 years ago, and she did it by soliciting donations.
“It dawned on me one day that people had to drive so far either to Wareham or Hyannis to go to the hospital,” she said. “If some older people had family in the hospital, they would have to drive so far to visit them. So I decided to start knocking on doors to ask people to contribute to money to build one in Falmouth.”
The Falmouth Hospital Auxiliary acknowledged Freeman’s efforts by honoring her at their annual meeting two years ago.
“Everybody was good to me, they appreciated what I did,” she said.
While she still drives, staying within a few miles of her home, she is involved with the St. Elizabeth Seton Church’s Women’s Guild and continues to attend meetings. She is on the Barnstable County Agricultural Society board of directors and volunteered for many years with her husband at the annual Barnstable County Fair. She used to be in charge of the fair’s plant exhibit and was instrumental in developing a souvenir shop for fair goers. She proposed the idea to the director who made arrangements for a tent to display and sell souvenirs the first year, and her husband built a building to house the items the next year.
Freeman’s efforts were recognized by the board in October 2016, when she was presented with a 30-year Service Recognition Award that she proudly displays in her dining room.
Other organizations have also benefited from Freeman’s volunteerism, like the North Falmouth Village Association, the Falmouth public schools, Megansett Grange, Mothers March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, and the Paul E. White Memorial Road Race.
“I handed out water bottles,” she said. Two years ago, she was honored with a ride in a 50th anniversary Ford Thunderbird at the head of the parade.
While she fondly reminisces about her past accomplishments, misses her husband and admits to a bit of forgetfulness at times, Freeman is amazed at the gratitude and honor shown to her two years ago at the Falmouth Hospital Auxiliary’s annual meeting.
She said she never gave volunteering a second thought.
“I kept myself busy, I just did it and forgot about it,” said Freeman.
Originally published on Cape Cod Health News, May 1, 2017