Marianne Gimple Fread passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the age of 84. She was born on March 13, 1942, in Sungai Gerong, Indonesia and lived a remarkable life shaped by resilience, independence, generosity, and a genuine appreciation for the simple things in life.

Marianne’s earliest years were marked by circumstances few could imagine. When she was approximately one year old, Marianne, along with her brother, Hein; her mother, Gerta; and other members of their family were imprisoned by the Japanese on the island of Sumatra during World War II. She later spent much of her childhood in Sungai Gerong, Indonesia, before returning to Holland, where she completed high school.

At the age of 18, Marianne embarked on a new adventure, traveling to the United States for the first time to study nursing. She ultimately completed her education and training as a surgical technician and went on to dedicate more than 30 years to her career, assisting in the operating room and ensuring surgeons had the instruments and tools they needed to care for their patients.

Marianne eventually made Florida her home, living there for more than 50 years. She was married during her younger years and later divorced, choosing never to remarry. Her greatest blessings came with the births of her son, Joseph, in 1977, and her daughter, Veronica, in 1980.

Independent and content with a simple life, Marianne had little interest in fancy possessions. What she did have, however, was the generosity to share with people closest to her. She treated others with kindness and possessed a generous spirit that was reflected not in what she owned, but in what she was willing to give.

Marianne loved being outdoors and could often be found reading a good book outside while enjoying a cigarette. She loved animals, especially horses, and enjoyed horseback riding, long walks, and swimming. She was also a fan of the older Star Trek movies and television shows. Whether immersed in a book, spending time with animals, or simply enjoying the outdoors, Marianne knew how to appreciate life on her own terms.

Even as dementia began to take away precious memories and change the life she had always known, Marianne maintained the spirit that had carried her through so many chapters of her journey. She enjoyed life and approached death without fear, accepting it as a natural part of the journey.

In keeping with Marianne’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. She preferred that the family members and friends who loved her remember and mourn her in their own personal ways. Some of her ashes will be scattered near her son’s home in Virginia. Her ashes will also be scattered in other places such as Jetty Park in Florida, a favorite beach that held a special place in her heart.

Marianne is survived by her son, Joseph Fread; daughter, Veronica; brother, Hein; stepbrother, Tom; stepsister, Josephine; and granddaughters, Holland Fread, Skyler Romain, and Ranya Lara.

Marianne’s life took her from Indonesia to Holland and ultimately across the ocean to the United States. Through hardship, adventure, motherhood, a long career, and more than eight decades of life, she remained uniquely herself, independent, giving, kind, and determined to enjoy life for as long as she could.