Freida Milsten Schuman, lifelong Oklahoman, passed away January 25, 2012, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was a resident of St. Simeon's for the past several years. She formerly resided in two different homes in Tulsa, both designed and built by her late husband.

Frieda was born in Colgate, Oklahoma in 1921, of immigrant parents. She was the youngest of five children of Etta Goldstein Milsten and Morris Milsten. Her family moved to the Tulsa area in the mid 1930's. Her loving mother died of pneumonia when Frieda was just fifteen years old.

Frieda met Avrome Schuman of Tulsa when her family became members of Temple Israel. Frieda and Avrome later graduated together from Central High School in 1938. Frieda attended the University of Missouri and the University of Texas, ultimately earning her B.A. degree. She was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority.

In 1944 Frieda and Avrome were married a few months prior to his European service as an Army Air Corps officer in World War II. During Avrome's absence Frieda worked for the U.S. Army Finance office and for Seidenbach's department store, both in Tulsa. After Avrome's return from service in 1946, Frieda and Avrome made their home in Tulsa for the remainder of their lives. Avrome Schuman died in 1988.

Frieda was a twenty-five year volunteer admissions staff member at the Tulsa Psychiatric Foundation. She was also a more the seventy-five year member of Temple Israel, receiving both the Amudim (Pillar of the Temple) and the Queen Esther awards for her many years of Temple service and participation.

Frieda's interests ranged from the visual and performing arts to literature, Broadway musicals, and symphony. She knew no stranger and engaged others in conversation with grace and open-mindedness. She was passionate in the areas of social justice and civil rights, never accepting the prejudices so common in her lifetime. She insured that her sons, Marc and Daniel, would always embrace diverse cultures and individuals with compassion and understanding.

In addition to her two sons, she is survived by daughters-in-law Camille Schuman and Vida Schuman, three grandchildren—Benjamin Schuman, Rebecca Aronoff, and Nina Schuman, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Temple Israel, with interment following at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Contributions in Frieda's honor may be made to St. Simeon's, the Alzheimer's Foundation, or Temple Israel.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151