Betty Jo Friend

Betty Jo Friend, known to many as Jo, of Hopwood, passed to her eternal reward on Thursday, July 24, in Pittsburgh after a brief illness at the age of 92.  Jo was born on November 13, 1932, to the late Mamie Ann (Casteel) and Olin Roomsburg, in Moorefield, WV.

Jo was a homemaker most of her life, and worked at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Walmart in the Fabrics Department after her children were grown.  She was an avid quilter, making quilts for most of her descendants.  She also enjoyed reading and the family genealogy.

Jo was an active member of First Christian Church of New Salem as long as her health permitted, then joined in online faithfully.  She taught Sunday School and organized the nursery for many years and was a deaconess and member of the Missions Committee.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard H. Friend, after 59.5 years of marriage, on March 11, 2013; her daughter-in-law, Kathy Brundege Friend; her parents; sisters, Lila Dawn Hahn and Anna Jean Hardman; nephews, Lee Hahn, John Hahn, Thomas Hahn, and John Roomsburg; in-laws, Vivien Grove, Virginia Fischer, H. Jean McCracken, Ralph D. Friend, Joseph Edward Friend, Jr., Mildred Friend Rogers Thomas, and Amy Friend Caldwell Nickelsen.

She is survived by her 6 children:  Mary Ann (Bruce) Graff of West Alexander, PA; Henry Friend (Sharon Campbell) of Hibbs, PA; David (Cindy) Friend of Greensburg, PA; Richard (Christine) Friend of Williamstown, NJ; Ralph (Teresa) Friend of Falls Church, VA; and George Friend of Thompson Station, TN.  Also surviving are 13 grandchildren:  Philip (Lisa) Graff; Katie Graff and husband, Tony Schaefer; April (Lyman) Roderick; Joshua (Kendall) Friend; Michael (Chelsie) Friend; Joe Friend (fiancée Abby Laszewski); Danny Friend;  Sheena Friend and husband, Aaron Elliott; Christina (JR) Pittman; Steven (Elise) Friend; Tyler Friend; Rachel Friend and husband, Wyatt Evans; and J.T. (Sarah) Friend; and 18 great-grandchildren:  Mabel, Jonas, Cheyenne, Dustin (fiancée Makayla Gifft), Aspen, Murphy, Finnick, Morgan, Addison, Nolan, Darcy, Cyrus, Jackson, Felicity, Josie, Theodore, Finnegan, and Arthur; sister, Jacquelin Albertson of Johnstown, PA; brother, Jim Roomsburg of Virginia Beach, VA; and many nieces and nephews and their families on both sides of the family as well as other relatives and many friends.

Friends will be received at CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME IN HOPWOOD on Sunday, July 27, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and Monday from noon until 1:00 p.m. A celebration of Jo’s life will be held at the funeral home on Monday, July 28, at 1:00 p.m. with Patsy Sassano officiating. Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 29 in the Friend Family Cemetery at 350 Turkey Neck Road near Swanton, Maryland, with Bruce Graff officiating.

Should anyone desire, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 800 New Salem Road, Uniontown, PA  15401.

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