Edieann Freeman was born in Olympia, Washington to Herbert E. Freeman and Dorothy (Duncan) Freeman (both deceased). Her three siblings survive her. They are Jeannie Borland, Cynthia Montini, and Rosemary Sevigny.

She married her lifetime love, James R. Didham, on Sept. 3, 1977, and this union brought a daughter, Laural L. Didham (spouse-Tim) into the family, and produced a son, Robert J. Didham. An earlier marriage to Joseph Biesbrock produced son Aaron R. Biesbrock (spouse-Leslie). Grandchildren from this union are Kellen and Devin Biesbrock. Edieann's love for her family was the highpoint of her life.

Edieann graduated from Highline H.S. in Seattle, Washington. She attended the University of Washington and Utah State University graduating with a B.S.degree. She received M.Ed. and Doctorate degrees from University of Georgia.

Edieann led Adopt America Network, a nonprofit organization finding adoptive homes for children in foster care, as President/CEO until multiple myeloma forced her retirement in 2005. Her work was her passion, and she was proud of placing 800 children in adoptive homes during her tenure. She felt nothing else was as fulfilling as seeing a child's life transformed by adoption into a loving family.

She was an Emeritus Professor from Bowling Green State University having served in several administrative and faculty positions including Assistant Vice Provost and retiring as Director of Marketing and Promotion. Many students were befriended and guided during her years at BGSU, and the Didham home was the "second home" for many U.S. and international students. Colleagues and friends from across the region gathered there for sessions of traditional music and storytelling.

Prior professional positions included Teaching Associate in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, Assistant Professor in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota, and Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Education, and then the Director of the Professional & Community College of Brenau College, Georgia.

Among her hobbies was a passion for the ancient sport of curling. She was a member of the USWCA Women's Touring Team to Scotland 1996 and she was a frequent competitor in bonspiels and playdowns in the USA, Canada and Scotland. She is a long time member of the Bowling Green Curling Club and past Club Secretary, Historian and member of the Board. She was also a national executive board member for the United States Women's Curling Association serving as Director of Promotion and Public Relations.

She loved travel, wilderness trips, canoeing and kayaking and hiking. She loved folklore and storytelling and was an accomplished Celtic teller of tales appearing with traditional music groups in local sessions. She had a fondness for folk art, flower gardening and carved carousel horses. She was involved in genealogical research and enjoyed travels to uncover family historical sites. She held memberships in Clan Donnachaidh, the Huguenot Society and the DuBois Family Association.

Academic honors include Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi and Totem Club. While at BGSU, she was honored professionally with more than 100 awards for outstanding publications and print media including Ad Club of Toledo Addy awards, WIC Regional Crystal Awards, and NUCEA national awards of excellence. Research articles she authored appeared in Journal of Educational Measurement, Journal of Educational Research and American Educational Research Association Abstracts. She wrote additional articles for the U.S. Curling News and The Scottish Curler magazine. Biographical listings feature Edieann in Who's Who of American Women, World Who's Who of Women, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Advertising, Who's Who in American Education, Leaders in Education, Outstanding Educators of America, and Outstanding Young Women of the U.S.

She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority (Sigma Iota chapter, University of Washington); Edieann chaired the advisory board for the Beta Mu chapter at Bowling Green State University and served as a national alumnae officer, Director of Member Education. She served 18 years as an Executive Board Member for the UnitedChristian Fellowship Center at Bowling Green State University. She served on the College Advisory Board for the Synod of the Covenant, United Presbyterians. Other posts included Past President of Ohio Council of Higher Continuing Education, the Chancellor's Higher Education Advisory Committee for Telecommunications (Ohio Board of Regents), the Ohio Post-Secondary Telecommunications Council (Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network Commission), Board of Directors for Division of Marketing and Promotion (National University Continuing Education Association), and Past President of Panhellenic, Findlay, Ohio.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Findlay, Ohio, member of the Board of Deacons, and ordained Stephen's Minister and member of the ministerial teaching staff. Edieann was a member ofGrand Rapids chapter, OES chapter #356, Order of Eastern Star, and Findlay assembly #252, The Social Order of Beauceant. Edieann worked tirelessly as a liaison with the Royal Arch Masons of Ohio to facilitate their sponsorship of Adopt America Network. She was a member of the Toledo Rotary living the Rotarian motto, "Service above self". Edieann continued to serve Adopt America Network after her retirement as an active member of the Board of Directors. At the end of her life, she was grateful for the love and support of family and friends.

Will you remember me?
Will you remember me?
When I am gone from here
Will you remember me?

Edieann passed from this life after a long illness on February 9, 2008, with her husband Jim holding her hand. A Service of Remembrance will be held in the Chapel of Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, 1460 West Wooster St., Bowling Green, Ohio (419-352-2171) on Thursday February 14, at 7:00PM. Prior to the service, Edieann’s family will be receiving friends and family from 5 – 7pm in the Remembrance Banquet Hall of the funeral home where an hors d’oeuvre buffet will be hosted. Interment will be private at the Chagrin Falls, Ohio cemetery in the Didham family plot. The Didham family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Adopt America Network, 1025 N. Reynolds Rd., Toledo, OH 43615.

Condolences to the Didham family may be offered at www.hannemanfh.com