Katherine “Kate” Anne Freel, of Williamsburg, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, at the age of 27.
She was born on April 6, 1988, in Danville, Pennsylvania.
She was the younger of two children born to Annie Hemmer Gallagher and the late John Rhodes.
Kate is survived by her children, Layton and Olivia; mother, Annie Gallagher; stepfather, Mike Gallagher; brother, Andrew Rhodes and his wife, Holly Rhodes; nephews, Cameron and Cooper Rhodes; nieces, Audrey and Caroline Rhodes; maternal grandparents, James and Patricia Hemmer (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); aunts and uncles, Mary Beth and Al Japely (Louisville, Kentucky), John and Cathy Hemmer (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Peter and Jackie Hemmer (St. Francis, Wisconsin), Martha and George Knezic (Greendale, Wisconsin), Paul and Susan Hemmer (Bethesda, Maryland) and Jamie Hemmer (Chicago); and many cousins who loved Katie very much.
Kate was an amazing and optimistic woman whose smile and laugh brought warmth to all she encountered. She was incredibly devoted to her family. Her selfless love is reflected in the joyful, kind-hearted disposition of her two charming children. She loved holidays and particularly relished sharing the excitement of special celebrations with Layton and Olivia.
She will be daily remembered as an empathetic and generous woman who was determined to live life to the fullest, enjoyed the outdoors, held a particular affection for ducks and loved to share life’s ups and downs with her loved ones. Kate is dearly missed, deeply loved and will be forever cherished through the lives she has touched and the beautiful children she has shared with the world.
Her family would like to thank the incredible circle of family, friends and coworkers whose love and generosity have and will continue to bless and sustain them for years to come.
A Catholic Mass of the resurrection will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either of the following funds for the future care of Kate’s children through the web address http://www.gofundme.com/4e3pddxs, or by contacting Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School at 757-467-2881 and Middleburg Bank, Williamsburg, in the name of Annie Gallagher for her grandchildren.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
To view the full list of WYDaily obituaries, click here.
