Denise K. Friedrich

MY LIFE Once upon a time, 60 years ago, on a beautiful, warm sunny day on August 29 th in the year of 1957, Richard and Phyllis Friedrich gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Denise Kay Friedrich “Dee” to whom she became known had a fantastic childhood growing up with her 3 siblings Dawn, Darren and Debbie. Her whole family lived close on a hill in the City of Lawrence Massachusetts. Rudy and Gertrude, her grandparents, her Uncle Butch and her Auntie Ester and Uncle Warren.

As a young child she loved playing and getting into trouble with her cousins Paul and Leslie and always looked forward to celebrating everything together. The neighborhood families were also her friends and were very dear to her because they loved her throughout her life. The Arlequeeuws, the Mullins, and the Gouldsbroughs all played a part in the forming of the person she later became in life.

She grew up into a very strong independent woman and achieved her Physical Therapy Assistants License in 1977. When a job showed up in California she moved and became a top notch therapist. Dee was a therapist with a big heart and a tough love attitude. She also adored the California weather. Shortly after being diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Lymphoma in 2008 she decided to move to New Hampshire to be closer to her family. At first she lived in Keene NH where she worked as a PTA for a wonderful boss and many therapy friends who helped her in so many ways the last few years she lived there. Eventually she moved even closer to her family and rented a small apartment in East Hampstead, NH. She loved decorating her new apartment, especially hanging all of her art pictures.

Dee herself became an artist and drew mostly with charcoal pencils. As a lover of the arts, her bookshelves were lined with art books about famous painters. In between the books, the shelves were dotted with unusual antiques she had found during her life. Cooking was also one of her favorite past-times and she made the best pork roast in the world with fresh crushed garlic. Another great love of hers was music. The 500 CDs were always alphabetically stored in a solid oak wood CD cabinet which she dusted once a week. ​She was kind to all, loved a good joke and worshipped George Carlin. She appreciated all that anyone did for her. She couldn’t wait to read Aunt Sherrill’s funny emails which always made her laugh and she will be forever grateful for the comfort brought to her by Donald and Sue. Dee loved Meaghan and always looked forward to her heartwarming chats over a large glass of red wine.

Dee loved both her brothers-in-law very much. Jim who bought her warm blankets and socks and Ralph who was always available at a drop of a hat and in a moments notice. Adult conversations with her nephews Jim and Jay and hugs and kisses from Matt and Alyssa were always welcomed with open arms. That was always her favorite part of the holidays. As for the 3 siblings, a part of her will forever by engraved within their hearts. They will miss her forever. And this is how the story ends: Sadly, on April 4, in the year 2018 Denise Kay Friedrich passed away. ​

Dee is predeceased by her parents, Richard D. Friedrich (1980), and Phyllis (Jensen) (2014). She is survived by her Aunt and Uncle, Sherrill and “Dick” Whitmore of IL, her siblings, sister Debra Lanza and her husband James, of Danville, NH, Brother, Darren Friedrich of Bradford, MA, sister, Dawn Donovan and her husband Ralph of Merrimac, MA as well as her 4 nieces and nephews, James J. Lanza and his wife Meaghan of Pebble Beach, FL, Jason Lanza of Atkinson, NH and Alyssa and Matthew Donovan of Merrimac, MA and several cousins. 

Services will be private.Memorial contributions may be made to the Waldenstrom's Foundation.  Arrangements are by The Dewhirst & Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen.  To leave an online condolence, please go to www.dewhirstfuneral.com

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