Freda Avery Bieler

Freda Avery Bieler passed away peacefully in her sleep early Thursday December 22, 2022 (28 Kislev) at the age of 89 and a half. Freda was born on May 27, 1933 in Tulsa Oklahoma, to Jack & Fay Avery, immigrants from Russia and Milwaukee. Eldest of three in a family that owned grocery stores, she remembered her father helping people get through the Depression. After a semester at OU, she transferred to Houston, Texas where she met Alfred Bieler, whom she married in 1961. Freda became a homemaker, scout leader and chauffeur, staying deeply involved in her children’s activities. Always creative, she excelled at costuming and all manner of crafts. Her fondness for skunks showed in an impressive collection of figurines, cookie jars and embroidered art . She channeled her artistic energy into quilting, crochet, and professional-quality sewing, eventually teaching classes for Stretch & Sew Fabrics. Her repertoire soon included programmable embroidery machines and her prize 5-thread serger, with the back porch enclosed and turned into a sewing room. Her other passion was bowling with her friends in the WIBC and Jewish Fellowship leagues. She was a fixture as League Secretary, and took pride in her patches for 200 games, 500 series and All Spares games (picking up spares being her specialty). The women’s league teams were fun, with names like “The Happy Hookers,” a sly reference to crochet of course. Her husband Fred ran a legendary music and jewelry store, disguised as a pawn shop on the worst corner in the worst neighborhood in Houston. Freda helped out at Philip’s Loan Office on weekends, until it became impossible to stay open. As a full partner in a new store, Freda worked alongside Fred until they retired. Freda accompanied Fred to countless Jazz concerts and the Houston Symphony, and indulged gatherings of cognoscenti in Fred’s music room, which she called The Loafing Department. Freda was known for her wit and wordplay, and a clever eye and sharp mind she honed with games like Cryptoquote and Word Jumble. She loved reading and had her own overflow library in one of the back bedrooms. Freda is dearly missed by her friends and family. She is survived by her son JJ (Jack) Bieler and wife Sandy; daughter Carole Curtis and husband Tony; grandchildren Jessica Hinna Bieler, Adam Curtis, and Brandon Curtis; and brother Allan Avery. She was preceded in eternal rest by her husband Fred, and her brother Bill Avery. A graveside service wwas held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 2 PM at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 1037 N Post Oak Rd., Houston, TX 77055. For those wishing to view a recording of the service, please use the following link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3MTg1MjM3MTIyNjQ5MiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to the charity of your choice. Live streams may be interrupted due to poor internet signal at the cemetery. Unfortunately these are circumstances outside of our control. The funeral service is also being recorded in real time and will be uploaded as soon as the funeral service is completed. If you are watching the live stream and it is disrupted or you log in and the service isn’t available, please check back later.

Freda Avery Bieler

May 27, 1933 - December 22, 2022