TENANTS HARBOR — Deborah S. Frieder, 78, passed away peacefully, Monday, August 17, 2026, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. Born Deborah Lynn Simmons on December 3, 1947, in Rockland, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Esther Hawkins Monaghan and Maurice Edwin Simmons. She was later legally adopted by her stepfather, the late Arthur C. Frieder.

Deborah was a retired elementary school teacher for Ludlow Public Schools in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Her warmth, patience, and commitment to her students left a lasting mark on generations of children throughout the community. Education was a true family calling—she proudly followed in the footsteps of her mother, who was a retired schoolteacher, and her adoptive stepfather, who served as a school superintendent in Maine. An avid reader, Deborah possessed a lifelong passion for books, learning, and literature—a trait she passed along to her family and students alike.

Upon returning to Maine after her retirement, she cherished spending time with close friends and neighbors, taking daily walks around town, and admiring the beauty of the coastal landscape.

She is survived by her son, Joseph LaHait, and his wife, Amy of Haymarket, Virginia; and her two cherished grandsons, Matthew and Brendan, who were the greatest joys of her life.

In accordance with her wishes, no formal services will be held.

For those who wish to honor her memory and lifelong love of reading, donations may be made to: Jackson Memorial Library (Serving the St. George, Maine community), P.O. Box 231, Tenants Harbor, ME 04860.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland. To share condolences with Deborah’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.