Fredricka Gens

Fredricka (Freddy) S. Gens passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 7, 2024, in Amarillo, Texas.

 A memorial service will be held at Llano Cemetery on Monday, October 14, 2024,  at 10:00 A.M., officiated by Rabbi Chazzan Michael McClosky of Temple Emeth, Brookline, MA. Arrangements are in the care of  Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas.

Fredricka was born in Boston, MA, June 29, 1935, to Estelle (Sisson) Stahl and Max Stahl. She graduated from Girl's Latin School (1952) in Boston, MA, followed by an English Literature degree from Mount Holyoke College in S. Hadley, MA (1956). Fredricka earned a Master’s Degree in Speech Therapy from Boston University.

She was diagnosed with MS in her twenties. By the time she was in her 70s, her doctors told her family that she was one of the oldest people in the United States living with the disease. Freddy never let MS slow her down. She spent her life as a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She also lived a life of community service as a teacher to children with special needs, a patient services coordinator to people with MS, a mentor to disabled students at Amarillo College, and a teacher of ESL at West Texas A&M University. By example she taught her family to be strong, how to overcome adversity, and how to be loving and compassionate to one another.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Stephen H. Gens, in 2013. Fredricka is survived by her children Rebecca Gens of Amarillo, TX; Mark Gens of Brooklyn, NY; her grandchildren Matthew Gens Kim and his husband, Jong Kim of Hardwick, MA; her granddaughter, Hillary Bunce Green and her husband, Peter Green of Amarillo, TX; her great-grandchildren James Bunce of Lansing, MI and Lillian Bunce Green of Amarillo, TX. Also, her sister Marcia Ratner of Cincinnati, OH, four nieces and one nephew, and her very best friend Dianne Sagan of Amarillo, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National MS Society, P.O. Box 91891, Washington D.C. 20090, or on the website nationalmssociety.com