Eva Freel

Eva L. Freel, age 99, formerly lifelong resident of Swartz Creek, passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2023. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, starting at 1PM until 8PM at Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Road in Swartz Creek. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 11AM at Swartz Creek United Methodist Church, 7400 Miller Road in Swartz Creek. Eva will be laid to rest next to her husband, Adelbert at Bendle Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eva's name to the Swartz Creek United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

Eva's Story began on February 4, 1924, the daughter of Floyd & Penelope Crandall. Eva was born in Flint, Michigan. She attended Longfellow Junior High and Central High School where she made wonderful lifelong friends. She had a happy childhood with many great adventures with family and friends. She loved spending her summers and weekends "on the farm" at her sister's home. This is where, at age 16, she met the love of her life, Adelbert "Bud" Freel who was a hired hand on the farm. They dated for the next few years and were married in April of 1944 at her family home. Their 71-year marriage is a wonderful example of love and dedication to their children and grandchildren.

Eva loved her family and took great pride in watching it grow with the addition of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Bud loved to spend time with their grandchildren attending sporting events, scouting ceremonies, graduations, weddings and other milestones. The grandchildren had many great sleepovers where they would help in the yard, make cookies and read stories. Eva and Bud loved taking the grandchildren camping and sharing so many special times with them.

Eva found great delight in gardening. She would make plans for the flowerbeds and planting of trees and shrubs. She and Bud would work for hours together to bring her plans to fruition. They watched their neighborhood grow around them and many of these neighbors became family. Eva also loved to read and do embroidery, which she learned from her mother. She passed down her love of these hobbies to her children and grandchildren.

Eva and Bud enjoyed traveling to visit with their children who had moved to Arizona and Florida. They loved spending time sightseeing with them and meeting their friends.

Eva is survived by her children; Leslie (Paul) Cupal, David (Misty) Freel, Roberta (Robert) Coverdill, Thomas (Sherrie) Freel and Penny (Mark) Adams; her son-in-law, David (Sandy) Scheitler; her grandchildren, Marianne Cupal, Andrew (Shauna) Cupal, Lindsay Freel, Heather (Jon) Jones, Andrea (Brad) Davis, Aaron Scheitler, Jeff Freel, Jordan (Anthony) Simpson, Ryann (Andrew) Goulet, Alexandra (Cordaro) Alvarado; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Tanner, Ava, Kyler, Carleigh, Joe, Nickolas, Ryan, Taylor, Finley, Lorenzo, Luca, Nora and Ellis. Eva was a wonderful aunt to many nieces and nephews who all meant the world to her, and she will be missed by many.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Adelbert "Bud", daughter, Patricia Scheitler, son, Raymond Freel, grandson, Cody Adams, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Freel, brother, Clifford Crandall and her sisters, LaGene Youells, and Eleanor Schlinker.

The family wishes to give a special thanks to the staff of The Landings of Genesee Valley and Gentiva Hospice.