Catherine Freitas

Catherine Break Freitas, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully following a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Born on May 4, 1950, Catherine grew up in Visalia and graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1968. Shortly after graduation, her life's greatest adventure began when she flew to Fort Eustis in Virginia to marry the love of her life, Tony Freitas, who was attending the Army Transportation Corps Helicopter School. Upon completion of his training, Catherine joined Tony in West Germany, where he was stationed for two years. After his honorable service to his country, the couple returned home to Visalia to build their life together. Over their 58 years of marriage, Catherine and Tony welcomed their son, Nik, who was the light of their lives. While raising Nik, Catherine explored various career paths, finding her most profound professional fulfillment as a natural labor coach working alongside Dr. Ellis and Dr. Long. It was during this meaningful chapter of her life that Catherine also found her Christian faith, which remained a guiding light for her. Catherine had the ability to nurture and maintain lifelong friendships. As a founding member of the "Birthday Girls," she gathered with her dearest friends three or four times a year to celebrate life together-a tradition they proudly kept alive for 50 plus years. Her faith and community were central to her life; she shared her beautiful voice on her church's worship team for many years and was a dedicated member of her home fellowship group for over four decades, sharing life's joys and sorrows and lifting others up in prayer. Her faith also took her on incredible journeys, including church trips to Israel and a "Footsteps of Paul" cruise, where she celebrated her 50th birthday. Always determined and driven, Catherine also attended the College of the Sequoias, earning her Associate's Degree. She later channeled those skills into the family business, serving as the dedicated bookkeeper for Tony's Excavating Business. In 2000, Catherine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and faced the challenges of the disease with grace and resilience for over two decades. Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Janice Break, and her older sister, Marilyn Ruf. She is survived and deeply missed by her husband, Tony Freitas; her son, Nik Freitas, and daughter-in-law, Jocelyn; her cherished granddaughters, Azalea and Hazel; and her older brother, Kempton Break. Visitation will be held 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday, June 12th, 2026 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave., Visalia. Funeral services will be held 9:00 AM Saturday, June 13th, 2026 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, June 13th, 2026 at Visalia District Cemetery, 1300 W Goshen Ave, Visalia. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Catherine Freitas

May 4, 1950 - June 6, 2026