A Loving and Living Tribute to a Wife, a Mother, Grandmother, a Sister, and a Friend — the late Mrs. Leticia “Letty” Birao Freihaut

The late MRS. LETICIA BIRAO FREIHAUT , passed away on June 6, 2020 at the age of 72. She was a strong, smart, respected Community Leader, a Teacher, and a Beautiful multi-talented Lady. However, she will be remembered most as a loving wife, a loving Mother, a loving Grandmother, a giving Sister and a best friend. Leticia will be deeply missed by her Family both in the United States and in the Philippines, her many friends at work, the Filipino-American community, the Lions Club, the Filipino International Couples Society, the Philippine Independence Week Committee, and a host of other non-profit organizations she served.

Letty, as she is fondly called, is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Mr. Bart Freihaut, her son, Christopher Freihaut and his fiancée, Natalia Zuniga; her daughter, Beverly Covey and her husband, Reid; her daughter, Lorraine Tyson and her husband, Lance. She was a loving grandmother to Onyx Freihaut, Brian Covey, Julia Covey, Lance Vicente-James Tyson, Morgan Tyson and Elle Tyson. Leticia was one of 11 children. She was very close to her siblings — Flordiriza Birao, Erlinda Bumanlag, Vicente Birao, Jr., Hilda Orongan, Romeo Birao, Voltaire Birao, Sonia Birao Holmes, Dennis Birao, Danilo Birao and Maritess Birao).

Born and raised in Bato, Toledo City, Philippines, Leticia’s parents, Atty. Vicente Birao, was the former Mayor of Toledo City, Cebu. Her mother, Mrs. Maxima Sumillo-Birao, an educator, made sure Leticia got the proper education. Following her mother’s footsteps, she finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) and pursued her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Visayas, Cebu City.

Leticia started her teaching career in the United States at the Santa Lucia Catholic School where she received the Cardinal Bernardin Excellence in Teaching Award. She retired from Chicago Public School’s George Armstrong School of International Studies. She was also a Volunteer Teacher at the Paaralang Pilipino in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

In spite of a teacher’s hectic schedule, Leticia was very active in the Filipino American community in Chicago. She was a former president of the Chicago Manila Lions Club; president the Filipino International Couples Society, the first interracial couple club aimed at educating mainstream America about interracial marriages; president for two years of The Chicago Filipino American Lions Club District 1-A; and also a Lion Cabinet Member of the District 1-A in Chicago, Illinois. As a dedicated Lion, she was a recipient of the Lions Melvin Jones Award (highest award given by Lions International) and the Lions Foundation Fellow Award.

As an active leader, Leticia was honored with several other awards. In 2004, she helped raise funds for the less fortunate in the Philippines and crowned as “ Mrs. Chicago Philippine Independence” by the Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC). Other awards she received: In 2005, Most Outstanding Ladies of the Midwest by the Rhoton Foundation; 2006, “ Calendar Moms by the Pilipino American Senior Services (PASS)”; in 2008, she was inducted to the Asian American Hall of Fame in Community Services by the Fil-Am TV in Chicago; and crowned as the first Mrs. Philippines Mother Earth by the Alliance of Filipino Americans, Inc. (AFAI). The following year, she and her husband Bart Freihaut were honored as one of The Most Outstanding Couples by the Chicago Filipino American Lions Club. She is also the recipient of the 2009-2010 Most Outstanding Mom Award by the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF).

When Leticia was not busy chairing fundraising events in different community organizations, she tried to find time to nurture her other passion: dancing. Whether it was folk or ballroom dancing, if Leticia was at the dance event, you can be sure, that her beautiful smile and dance moves would brighten your day.

Mom, you are the Greatest Mom for all Times. Your Love is here to stay. Thank you dear God.

Individual Tributes:

Letty, my love and best friend, You were the most amazing wife and mother of our children I could have wished for. Thank you for always being by my side no matter what. I will love and miss you forever.
Love,
Bart

Mom,
You were beautiful both inside and out. You taught me by example what a strong and loving wife and mother should be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there for me, Lance, Lance Vicente-James, Morgan and Elle. We will miss you always, but know you will be with us forever in spirit.
Love,
Lorraine, Lance, Lance Vicente-James, Elle and Morgan Tyson

Mom,
You were a wonderful mom, grandma, wife and friend. We will miss you.
“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Love always,
Beverly, Reid, Brian and Julia Covey