TOWLE, FREDA STEPHENSON - of Hampden, Maine, passed on after a brief illness. She was born in 1923 at Florenceville, New Brunswick, the daughter of Rex and Agnes Stephenson. Freda graduated from Florenceville Superior School in 1942 and worked for several years for New Brunswick Telephone Company. She met and married Maurice Towle in 1948 and raised her five children in Easton, Maine on the family's potato farm. Upon her husband's retirement, they located to Hampden, Maine to be closer to her children. She worked for ten years in the Bangor Schools Food Service Department where she loved seeing the teenagers. She was a member of Good Will chapter No. 85 in Fort Fairfield and was a member of the Easton Methodist Church. Freda had a wonderful zest for life, touching everyone she met with her unselfish love. She loved to dress up and loved to travel, recently attending a reunion with her sisters. She was a great cook, always contributing to family occasions. She was a wonderful mom to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her gentle, loving nature will be greatly missed by many. She was the most wonderful wife a man could have, a very caring woman. She was predeceased by her brother Fraser Stephenson, sister Audrey Crabbe, son-in-law Arsalan Bayat, and grandson Michael Towle. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Maurice; by three sisters, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, her daughter Nancy Coffey, husband Dan Coffey, their son, Daniel Coffey of Holden and daughter Kristen Canders, husband John Canders of Brewer; her son Earl of Fryeburg and son Martin of Kansas City; her daughter Penny Hawkins, husband Brian Hawkins of Winslow, children Angela Manzer, husband Dean Manzer of Anson, and Amber Hawkins of Winslow, fiancé Thomas Whitaker of Manchester, England; Scott Towle, wife Kathie and son Christopher of Brewer; and daughter Gerry Dawn Bayat of Winslow; great grandchildren Mickaela, Dean, Lily, Elizabeth, and Caleb; sisters, Annie Simonds of Royalton, N.B., Maribelle Jennings of St. John, N.B., Joycelyn Kokke of Lathrop, Michigan, sister-in-law Eldine Stephenson of Florenceville, N.B.; and special friends Mary McKay and Eunice Rescott. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Easton Methodist Church, Easton, Maine. A celebration of Freda's life will be held on October 16th at 1:00 PM at the Church of the Open Door in Hampden, Maine. Burial will be in the family lot in Florenceville, New Brunswick on October 24th.