obituaries

Vivian LaVaughan Johnston (Bon) Freund

Alton |

Vivian LaVaughan Johnston (Bon) Freund, 78, of Alton died on February 9, 2014, surrounded by her loving family.

Bon was born to the late Morris and Eloise Johnston on September 22, 1935, in Pangburn, Arkansas. She graduated from Pangburn High School in 1953 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1957. On November 9 of the same year, Bon married Donald Freund in Danville, Illinois. Their marriage is one of the great love stories of our time, spanning six decades, six states and more grandchildren than you can put on a baseball team.

Bon was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who enjoyed reading, bird watching, homemaking, knitting, and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals. Bon was graceful and gracious in a way that is reminiscent of another era, another place when people had the time and patience and curiosity to ask questions of one another and wait to hear and understand their response. Her kindness and compassion extended far beyond her immediate family and she shared her joy of life with everyone she met. She was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and volunteer at the Crisis Food Center in Alton.

Bon is survived by the love of her life, husband Donald, and six children; Stephanie (Jim) Strauss of Des Moines; Cindy (Tom) Hughes of St. Louis; Kurt (Beth) Freund of St. Louis; Lisa (Ted) Rockwell of Boulder; Margaret Freund of St. Louis; and Rachel (Stephen) Rachford of St. Louis. She will be missed deeply by her grandchildren; Aaron, Carmen, Nolan, Reed, Madelaine, Nicholas, Zachary, Jackson, Nathan, Annaliese; great-grandson Carson and her joyfully anticipated great-granddaughter, Vivian.

Bon is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Nancy J. Reynolds and her grandson Vaughan.

Visitation will be from 4 pm to 8 pm Thursday February 13, 2014 at Staten-Fine Funeral Home, 220 Court Street, Alton, IL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am Friday February 14, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 519 E. 4th Street, Alton, IL.

Burial will be private at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to: St. Mary’s School.

Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.staten-fine.com


Obit Provided By:
Staten, Fine & Burke Funeral Home

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