Patricia Allene Friedl

Patricia Allene Friedl, 76, passed away December 25, 2018, in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

She was born at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Ga., on January 25, 1942, to William Franklin and Allene (Pittard) Jones. She married Richard (Dick) John Friedl in Denver, Colo., on June 5, 1964, the same day Pat graduated with a degree in education from the University of Denver. Following college, Pat moved with Dick to Thermopolis, so that he could join his father in running their family business, Friedl's Fashions. She taught fourth grade for a year, and then did both short- and long-term substitute teaching and tutoring for homebound students, as well as working at Friedl's store.

Pat dedicated her life to raising and supporting her children. Their interests became her passions. She led Girl Scout troops as her home became overwhelmed by Girl Scout cookie boxes. She watched band concerts and ballet recitals through the lens of a video recorder that seemed permanently attached to her shoulder. She and Dick followed the Thermopolis Wildcat Band to Calgary and Salt Lake City, the Wyoming All Star Marching band to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, and the Hot Springs County High School Marching Band to many Wyoming state marching band championships. When not behind the camera, Pat sought to show her kids the world beyond Thermopolis by encouraging them to read and pay attention to current events. Whenever they traveled, Pat made sure to schedule educational activities and stops at historic sites in addition to visiting family.

She was also philanthropic, being involved in the service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) for most of her life. She was state president in the 70's and four times chapter president in Thermopolis. With ESA she led events like Dance-a-Thon that raised money for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Following Dick's death in 1996 and the closing of Friedl's Fashions in 1997, Pat continued to substitute teach in Thermopolis until 2006 when Pat learned that a new continuing care retirement community would be built in Highlands Ranch. She decided to move back to the Denver area and into the Vi Senior Living community. There, she made new friends, loved the weekly line dancing sessions, taught craft classes, played bocce, volunteered at Vi's assisted living and long-term care center, acted with the Vi play-reading group, attended St. Andrew's Methodist Church, and attended as many musical theatre and concert performances as she could.

She is survived by her son, Franklin "Frank" (Rosa) Friedl and their children, Austin and Isela, all of Palmdale Calif.; her daughter Janet (Paul) Kavinoky of Birmingham, Ala.; and her sister Carol Ann Buffkin of St. Simons Island, Ga.

Pat was preceded in death by an infant son; her parents, and her husband.

A celebration of life was held at Vi in Highlands Ranch on December 29. A memorial to be held in Thermopolis will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.