Robin Hollis Freisen lived life well and fully till her death at Huntsville Hospital on Sunday, November 26, 2017. Robin was born in Birmingham on March 10, 1968, raised in Cullman County, and lived in Huntsville her adult life. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelors of Nursing degree and served ably as an RN in the Emergency Rooms of Huntsville and Crestwood hospitals and the Alabama Pain Center. Robin chose to work in ERs because she knew she could help people at their most challenging times. Robin loved to travel and plan adventuresome trips for her family, planning to the smallest detail. She traveled on youth and mission trips with her children, serving as the nurse to those who went and to those they went to serve.
Even after cancer began to take its toll, Robin did not slow down until her physical condition kept her close to home. She particularly enjoyed trips to Hawaii, St. John, Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, a safari in South Africa, and multiple trips to Disney World. Of all her adventures she loved most hiking and boating with her family at Smith Lake. She planned and gave her family a lifetime of memories in her short 49 years.
Robin was active in events and the youth ministry at First Baptist Church where her husband and children served with her in many ways. She particularly enjoyed her Connections Sunday School class and was so grateful for their care for her and her family these last years.
After cancer began to take its final toll, Robin became very active in her search for information about her particular kind of breast cancer. She attended several breast cancer conferences in other cities to learn cutting edge treatments and to let her experiences and diagnosis be of future benefit to others. She connected on-line with others who shared her type cancer. Robin was intentional in all she did.
But she saved her best for her family – her husband John, two daughters – Taylor and Anna Katherine, and son Andrew (Drew). It was for them that Robin did not stop until her life on this earth was over. She loved her family which caused her to outlive predictions of the time limit that cancer would put on her. She lived hard those days so that Taylor, Anna Kate, and Drew could keep their mother with them. She was a valiant woman. Her family knew her to be a woman who lived in humility and in God’s grace. Her smile and concern for others will always be remembered by her family and her many friends.
In addition to her family, Robin is survived by her parents, Ann and Jack Hollis of Decatur, and her brother, Bryan (Cindy) Hollis and son, Ben. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Tom Freisen and sister-in-law, Anne Caraway, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A celebration for the life of Robin Freisen will be held in the Life Center of First Baptist Church, Huntsville at 3pm on Wednesday, 11/29/2017. The family requests that attendees wear colorful attire to honor Robin’s life. A time of family visitation will follow the service.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeremy Hon at CCI for years of commitment to Robin’s care and to her caregiver of recent months, Tiffany Brooks, and to many friends who have shown true care and friendship to Robin and her family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the Youth Ministry Missions at First Baptist Church, Huntsville (600 Governors Dr, 256.428.9400) or the Russel Hill Cancer Foundation at Clearview Cancer Institute (www.russelhill.org).
