Edward D. Friel

It is with a heavy heart that the family of Edward D. Friel, 71, announce he lost his long and valiant battle with PMA, a cousin of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Ed was born on November 26, 1952, the second child of the late Edward J. and Ann E. Valasek Friel. He graduated from Highlands High School in 1970, the first class out of the new building; and furthered his education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1974 with a BA in Criminology. 

He began working at Allegheny Ludlum’s Brackenridge plant in 1976 and retired in 2015 after 39 years of service. While employed at the mill he worked as a laborer, night turn repairman, high tension switchman, and returned to the repair shop in his final years. When he retired, he stated he had the biggest playground in the world where he worked and that was what he missed the most. Ed was a life member of Citizens Hose Fire Department and helped with the transition of the Birdville School to the present-day fire hall. Ed was an EMT and in the early days of EMS he participated in the Heart Start program, a precursor to the current AED.  Ed enjoyed working with many different forms of electronic devices and loved his radios. He collected fire extinguishers and Gamewell memorabilia. He had a 1979 bronco that he was restoring and he enjoyed tinkering in his garage workshop welding and using his tools to fix various items. There was little he could not fix. 

Ed was member of Guardian Angels Parish, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Worship site where he participated heavily in parish life, especially when his children were enrolled in the school. He was a cafeteria worker, worked many hours on the parish Summerfest, and helped maintain the buildings. Ed became involved with Boy Scout Troop 186 when his son joined, and he spent many hours on their adventures and excursions including Gettysburg, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, annual summer camps, camp outs, canoe trips, and bridge crossings.

Ed is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lynne C. Olliges Friel, “his angel,” whom he met through his cousin on a blind date in March of 1982; his son Adam E. (Mary Jane Zivkovich) Friel of Natrona Heights; his daughter, Colleen A. Friel (Jon Welsh) of Lansing, MI; his older sister Janice (Rich) Kaufman of Hermitage; younger brother Shawn (Margie Smith) Friel of Natrona Heights; a sister-in-law Laurie A. Olliges (Joseph) Kaufman of Cincinnati, OH; brother-in-law William A. (Becky) Olliges of Cincinnati, OH; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by several aunts and uncles along with his in-laws, Donald C. and Marlene Hofmann Olliges.

As per Ed’s request, he donated his body to science to further the knowledge and treatment of PMA; he then chose to be cremated. A memorial mass will be held at Guardian Angels Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Campus (800 Montana Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065) on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 12pm with Father John B. Lendvai officiating.  Funeral arrangements are under the care of the ROBERT PETERS FUNERAL HOME INC., 1521 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 (724-224-7730).  For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit www.petersfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

Memorial contributions can be made to ALS - Western PA Chapter, 416 Lincoln Ave, Millvale, PA 15209 or St. Vincent DePaul care of Guardian Angels Parish.

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