Ellen K. Friedman

Ellen K. Friedman

Age 90, of Aspinwall, passed away peacefully, on Monday, February 6, 2023. She was born December 6, 1932, to the late Harry R and Fiore E Kelly. Ellen graduated from Aspinwall High School in 1950 and attended Duff’s Business School. She was a secretary for H.F. Woods, Pittsburgh Plug and Product, and Doctor R. Gonzalez. She was a member of the Community United Methodist Church of Aspinwall. In the early 70’s she was very involved with the Sharpsburg Cadets Junior Drum and Bugle corps. Many will remember her time with the Cadets making lemonade and sandwiches for the kids, working the flea markets, and chaperoning on the bus, known as “Mrs. Hawkeyes”. She made all the members of the Drum Corps feel welcomed, accepted, and loved. She was a member of her High School Reunion committee, working on many Aspinwall High School reunion celebrations. She served her community with the implementation of Aspinwall’s first crime watch program, a program that ran for over 30 years. She was a block captain with her dear friend, Dorothy Killian, they raised thousands of dollars for several community initiatives and events. Among them: The emergency phone notification system, an annual Labor Day Walk, a Block Parent program, the borough's radar speed trailer, a police motorcycle, surveillance cameras, and free bike helmets and fingerprinting for area youth. Her proudest achievement in life was being promoted to “Grandma Ellen”. Her three granddaughters were her world and she loved them unconditionally, always willing to go the extra mile for them. When her great granddaughter Ava was born, she was tickled pink and so excited to have a little one around again. As Ava began to learn to speak, she coined Ellen “Great Gringa”. She was the loving mother of Kathleen A (the late Jeffery) Eckert of Washington D.C. and Patricia L (Gary) Cuffman of Willoughby, Ohio. Dear sister of Ileen Kelly and sister-in-law of MaryAnn Kelly. Devoted Grandma Ellen to Kelly (Ryan) Hollingsworth and Jessie Cuffman. Great “Gringa” to Ava; her babydoll. Beloved aunt of Kevin (Buffy) Kelly, Carrie (Richard) Penn, and Steven (Deborah) Kelly. Cherished Great Aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Harry R Kelly, and her granddaughter Nicole Fiore Cuffman.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a service beginning at 1 p.m.at the WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, 100 Center Ave., Aspinwall. Interment Allegheny County Memorial Park, Allison Park.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the stop afib foundation at  ttps://www.stopafib.org/. This is a division of the American Foundation for Women’s Health. This group collaborates with the American Heart Association on various projects but is not affiliated with the American Heart Association.  Afib can also lead to dementia which Ellen suffered from both conditions.

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