Fredrika Cox
Fredrika Van Vleck Cox passed away on March 21, 2025, at Life Transitions in Raleigh, NC. She was 88 years old.
Born on December 18, 1936, in Meriden, CT, Fredrika was the daughter of Durbin Hart and Dorothy Frantz Van Vleck.
Freddy, as she was known to friends, never met a stranger and had friends of all ages. She was, in fact, a collector of friends. She had a knack for making people feel at ease, welcome, and special.
Freddy had a sharp wit and a wicked sense of humor, and she could hold a room with her storytelling. She loved to entertain, filling her lovely homes in Raleigh, NC, Nantucket, MA, and Amelia Island, FL, with laughter and fun. She built lifelong friendships in each of those places, a testament to her remarkable ability to connect with people. She had a gift for hosting, able to put together creative gourmet meals on the fly- there was always room for unexpected guests and she made spontaneous get togethers seem effortless.
Freddy's love for Nantucket was infectious, and she enjoyed showing everyone "her island,” giving them the “real” tour. She cherished her time there. Like a migrating bird, she moved between Nantucket, Raleigh, and Amelia Island with the seasons.
Her friends and family would describe her as outgoing, gracious, feisty, loyal, and energetic. She valued play, and spent many hours playing bridge and games with her family and friends. Cheerful and adventurous, Freddy had an infectious laugh, a sparkle in her eyes, and a memorable smile.
She loved being near the ocean, dogs- she raised Ned, a dog for Guiding Eyes- knitting, and reading. A 1958 graduate of Lesley College, Cambridge, MA, she was an early childhood educator and director of a nursery school, and held a deep love for learning throughout her life. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to countless countries for his job in the agricultural and cotton business.
Freddy was a devoted wife and mother who had an abiding love for her family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years, David Warren Cox, her cherished son, David VanVleck Cox and her daughter-in-law, Margaret White Cox. She is survived by her daughters, Cary Cox of Charlestown, MA, and Sally Nunnally of Raleigh, NC; her sister Barbara (Ted) Chase of Glen Arm, MD; sister-in-law Nancy Van Pelt Cox of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Hart (Rodrigo) Haragutchi, Margo (Eddie Harvey) Cox, Sam Nunnally, Graham Cox, and Matthew Nunnally; cousins Hank (Dede) Frantz and Kay (Ken) Walter, 4 nieces and 2 nephews.
A southern belle by way of her maternal grandparents and a frugal New Englander by way of her paternal grandparents, Freddy had a true gift for connecting with people from all walks of life. She will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. The ashes of Freddy and her husband, David, will be scattered on Nantucket in July with family and friends present.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, A Safe Place Nantucket, or First Congregational Church Nantucket.