On Sunday, January 3, 2016 Norbert J. (Butch) Freel, passed away at the hospice unit of the Martinsburg, WV VA Hospital. He retired from the US Naval Submarine Service in 1985 after 23 years having served on a total of 11 submarines, 5 of them diesel subs. He also retired from Huntington Ingalls in 2007.

He was married to Catherine (Stebbins) Freel for almost 48 years, their love of the water led them to Grandview Island where they lived for 30 years and raised their sons, Eric, Kristian (Julia), and James. He loved to sail and owned sailboats until health issues forced him to sell his last boat, "Silence". You could always find him in his spare time either on the deck of his boat or the front deck of his house waving to neighbors with a smile on his face.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, James H. and Cleo B. Freel; and a daughter-in-law, Stephanie A. Freel.  He is also survived by his granddaughters, Rachel Pauline and Olivia Anastasia. He has 5 surviving sisters in law and 3 brothers in law and a very special niece and nephew with whom he lived since October, Beth and Steve Santa Maria of New Market, MD and their 5 children. His former daughter in law, Brittney Talbott and her daughter, Marleigh of Ashville, NC also survive him.

Cathy and her sons are very grateful to Drs. Geoffrey Bacon, Anthony Fisher, Todd Ginsler, and Alan Goldberg and their staffs for providing such loving care to Butch for years. Thanks also to Ann Cyptar of Riverside Hospital Speech Pathology for her kindness and loving treatment and always going above and beyond for helping him. And finally, thank you to Personal Touch Hospice, Carroll County Hospice (Maryland), the nurses, aides, chaplains, volunteers and social workers who worked so hard to make him comfortable. We could not have done it without your help. Klaudia, you are the best. We are blessed to call each of you a great care provider but also call you friends. You made him smile.

It is only fitting that Cathy bring Butch "home" for his burial.  The Holy Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 pm Thursday, January 28, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Immediately following at 6:00 pm, a funeral service will be held by Monsignor Walter Barrett. The family will meet with friends in Cordier Hall for light refreshments, immediately after the service. Final committal will be at 11:00 AM Friday, January 29 at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes for memorial donations to be sent to St. Joseph Food Pantry 504 Buckroe Ave. Hampton VA 23663.

Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.