Sarijane Mogerman Freiman, January 25, 2025
Sarijane Mogerman Freiman, beloved wife of the late S. Michael Freiman, M.D.; dear mother and mother-in-law of Matthew Freiman, Carla Feuer (Michael) and Rebecca Freiman; cherished grandmother of Noah; dear daughter of the late Sol and Golde Mogerman; dear sister and sister-in-law of the late Donald Mogerman (Sallie), Jay Mogerman (the late Susan), and the late Beatrice Rubin (late Bill); dear aunt, cousin, and friend to many.
She was born November 16, 1938 in St. Louis. She was raised in University City and was a proud graduate of University City High School.
Sarijane met the love of her life while she was working in the blood bank at Barnes Hospital. She was charmed and won over by a handsome young physician recently discharged from the Navy. After a whirlwind courtship, she married “her Michael.”
The children soon followed. As time and life evolved, her life’s purposes broadened; She made a career championing the needs of people with disabilities. Some of her accomplishments include:
The Special Offenders Council, the nation’s first program to deal specifically with people with developmental disabilities who became part of the criminal justice system;
Mentoring new police officers at the St. Louis Police Academy about managing encounters with people who have developmental disabilities;
A St. Louis county tax initiative in the late 1970s called Senate Bill 40 with money earmarked for adults with developmental disabilities, and serving on the resulting Productive Living Board for nearly 40 years;
Implementing programs through the MO Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education to train public-school teachers to integrate students with developmental disabilities into the classroom;
Additionally, she made a lasting impact on positive opportunities for employment, independent living, recreation and socialization for persons with developmental disabilities.
At home, her spirituality blossomed in the kitchen where her cooking tangibly expressed her love for her family, friends and faith. In this way she was very much her mother’s daughter.
A passion she developed later in life was serving as a docent at the St. Louis Holocaust Museum. She took great pride and satisfaction in teaching Jew and non-Jew alike about the reality of the Holocaust.
She is survived by her children Matthew, Carla (Michael) and Rebecca; her grandson Noah; her brother Jay Mogerman; and her many adoring cousins, nephews, nieces and all who loved her.
Sarijane was an active member of Congregation Temple Israel, where services will be held on Tues., Jan. 28, 2025 at 11 AM with internment at B’nai Amoona Cemetery. Visitation begins on Tuesday at 10:15 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Productive Living Board-St. Louis, The Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (AADD), Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, Congregation Temple Israel, Bais Abraham Congregation, Chabad of Chesterfield, Chabad of Greater St. Louis, The Jewish Federation of St. Louis or the charitable organization of your choice.
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