It is with sadness and sorrow that we announce that our dear sister, Fredi, claimed the Promise of the Resurrection in Jesus on July 20, 2021. Born in 1950, at UVa hospital, she was the first child of Ernie and Jackie Sommer. Fredi was the epitome of a loving daughter, sister, cousin, aunt and friend to everyone.

She graduated from Warwick High School in 1968 and became a registered nurse from Stuart Circle Hospital, School of Nursing, Richmond, Va. Fredi worked at Riverside Hospital, N.N. Health Department and retired as a Nurse Manager from the Middlesex Health Department, with 10 covered counties, after working for over 40 years.

Fredi was married to her high school sweetheart, Mannie. He was the love and blessing of her life, and they were married for 48 years before his death in 2015. They owned the Ammo Box, a firearms business. They loved going to gun shows and meeting and making new friends there. They both mentored, supported and guided a number of ‘youngsters’ to be good human beings and love their work they chose to do.

Beginning in the ’70s Fredi and Mannie would be at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Every weekend they trekked there to surf fish at Oregon Inlet. It began a family tradition for all of us to be there at Thanksgiving, which still goes on today.

Fredi was an active member of Severn Church and loved her Savior and Lord Jesus. She attended Sunday School via Zoom from her sister’s church so she could stay close to the Word of God.

As some of you knew, Fredi was on kidney dialysis for almost seven years. She diligently went to it three times each week. It was very difficult for her to endure and then last July, 2020, the call came that there was a donor kidney for her. She received her new kidney and it was the beginning of a new life for her. She always wanted to let the donor’s family know how deep her gratitude was for giving her their loved one’s kidney. It was a perfect fit.

Fredi slowly recovered and moved into a new home with exciting adventures ahead for her. Everyone saw her come back to her old self and be the generous, happy and loving person she always was.

Her family was extremely special to her. Her parents predeceased her as well as her treasured husband, Mannie, and dog, Gabby. Also, preceding her in death was her sister-in-law, Carolyn Lewis Sommer.

Her family, who cherished her deeply, includes her siblings, Heidi Hickman (David), Ernie Sommer Jr., Johanna Rawls (Richard), Gretchen Sommer, and Will Sommer (Cheryl). Her nephews and nieces are Jenny Cummings (Scott), Leslie Hoglund (Todd), Kevin Rawls (Mae Li), Christi Wilson (Brian), Whestley Spangler (Patricia) and Philipp Sommer II (Hannah), and sister-in-law, Betsy Branch Arntz (Steven). Fredi was a great-aunt to 12 and also, included, a myriad of cousins and friends.

A memorial service of Celebration will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, 1 p.m., at Andrews Funeral Home & Crematory, 7192 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061. If you wish, please make a donation to the Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue or the National Kidney Foundation.

We celebrate this momentous day where God chose you to walk beside Him.