Fredene Maulhardt

Fredene Maulhardt peacefully passed on to heaven on October 19, 2023, at her home in San Luis Obispo, surrounded by her husband and three adult children. She had lived 76 fruitful, adventurous, and loving years on this earth and left us just one day shy of her fiftieth wedding anniversary. Fredene was born in the small railroad town of Carlin, Nevada, the oldest of four children to Glen and Lorraine Weaver. Her uniqueness as a person was foretold by the way she got her name. Glen’s best friend in World War II was named Fred, and Glen was determined to name his firstborn after Fred; thus Fredene. Other early evidence of her precociousness and future determination was the story of how, at about age five, she went out into the middle of the busy interstate highway in Carlin, stopped a semi-long liner, and asked the driver if he could please run over her stick to see what would happen. That was the beginning of a life filled with curiosity and adventure. Growing up, she excelled in school and was head cheerleader and valedictorian of her class at Carlin High School (the Railroaders). When Glen was not working as a conductor for the Union Pacific, he would take Fredene with him, hunting, fishing, and trapping beaver on the Humboldt River for extra money. She shot her first deer at age thirteen and drove her dad’s old Jeep at age ten. She found solace in a deep faith commitment received at the small local Catholic Sacred Heart Church, where she took CCD classes. She also knew by age nine that she wanted to discover the outside world and dreamed of being a flight attendant. Fredene attended Santa Clara University in the Bay Area, where she received a BA in History. It was there that she met her future husband, John William Maulhardt, whom she was destined to marry after six years of fulfilling her life-long dream of being a flight attendant and seeing the world. Oh, how the Good Lord watched over our dear Freddie! Just before college graduation, on a flight to Las Vegas to visit her cousin, she sat next to the head flight attendant for World Airways, a mostly charter airline out of Oakland, CA. She mentioned that the next class in June was open and set Fredene up for an interview with the head recruiter. She was accepted but was told that the class was now full and that she would have to wait another year. Not to be deterred, she called back repeatedly and argued that she was “promised” acceptance to that class and was allowed in. Her flying career with World Airways was a whirlwind of adventure. Her first working flight was from Travis Airforce Base to Saigon during the height of the Vietnam War, where her 707 was shot at on final approach. She did over 30 flights into Vietnam, along with many other worldwide charters. She says she gained poise and confidence during those years, and all who knew her would call her one sophisticated lady. While still flying, she got engaged to her college sweetheart, and they married in 1973. All her life, she was a pillar of support for John in his produce career in the Santa Maria Valley. Shortly after marriage, she was able to convince “Farmer John” that traveling was more than just going to Mexico, and they made their first trip to Europe together. That led to their traveling to over 88 countries and all seven continents, highlighted by her climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro two days early at the age of 64! All this while raising three children and watching seven wonderful grandchildren enter their lives. Fredene was a natural leader and was involved in many projects, from being president of the Central Coast Women’s League to the School Board of Mission College Prep High School. She was very involved at Old Mission Church in San Luis Obispo as a lector and minister, along with engaged ministry. She finally convinced John to get involved with the Marriage Encounter movement, and they were a presenting couple for many a weekend, sharing their faith with growing young couples. A highlight in her life was shaking hands with Pope John Paul II at the Monterey Basilica during his visit in 1986. Fredene’s faith was her pillar, and she knew that her destiny was what she envisioned back in her days at that little church in Carlin, “Walking hand in hand with Jesus in heaven’s beautiful garden.” A priest friend of ours once said, “All people die, but not all people live.” Fredene may be with Jesus, but she sure got the most out of life while here with us. She will be greatly missed. Fredene is survived by her husband, John, sons Ian (Holly) and Tyson (Erica) Maulhardt of San Luis Obispo, and her daughter, Lauren (Dusan) Vukojevic, of Carlsbad, California. She was also so proud of her seven beautiful grandchildren, Wyatt, Simone, Drina, Nevena, Iva, Indy, and Zephyr. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her siblings, Sharon Sutherland, Teresa (Keith) Davis, and Patrick Weaver. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Old Mission Church in San Luis Obispo on Friday, November 3, at 2:00 pm. A reception will be held at the Old Mission parish hall immediately after the service. A Visitation and Rosary will be open at Reis Family Mortuary the evening before, November 2, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with the Rosary Service starting at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Fredene’s name is requested to the “Raising the Star” Capital Campaign Fund at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Community, 221 Daily Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405.

Fredene Maulhardt

June 19, 1947 - October 19, 2023