Freda Katherine Haile Chounet, widow of the late Frank Paul Chounet (1927-1967), passed away August 9th in Los Banos, California. She was born December 8th, 1929 in Uvalde, Texas. In 1946, her family moved to Firebaugh and Freda graduated from Dos Palos High School in 1947 where she met Frank. They were married June 2, 1948 in Firebaugh. Freda and Frank established a ranch in 1952 in Dos Palos area. Freda loved her life on the ranch and was a dedicated wife, mother and rancher.
In 1984, Freda relocated to Los Banos where she volunteered in numerous community service organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Elks Lodge, and the Los Banos Chamber of Commerce. She was also a member of the California Women for Agriculture, Los banos Basque Clu, Saint Joseph Catholic Church and Sacred heart Catholic Church. Freda was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying skiing, fishing and hunting. She also loved to travel and embarked o numerous globetrotting adventures with her longtime companion Donald Bonillas.
Freda is preceded in death by her parents Johanna and William Haile, Sr., sisters, Jacqueline Webber and Mary Jane Howard and brother william Haile and is survived by her sister Anna Rose Kanning and husband Edward. Freda will be dearly missed by her five surviving children; William Chounet and his wife Dr. Loretta Singletary, Anna Marie Strauss, Gerhardt Chounet and his wife Sally, Dr. Frank Chounet, Jr. and his wife Virginia, Michael Chounet, 11 grandchildren; Noel, Cassandra, Jean-Pierre, Kali, Autumn, Rochelle, Natalie, Frank, Lauren, Joseph and Robert and six great grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Thursday, August 13 from 5-7 pm followed by the rosary at 7pm at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel in Dos Palos, CA. the Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 14, 2015 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church of Dos Palos. Burial at the Dos Palos Cemetery. A reception in Freda's honor will be held from 1-4pm at the Los Banos Elks Lodge.