Gertie Friend

Gertie F. Friend, 64 of Scottdale, (Upper Tyrone Township) passed away, Sunday, September 10, 2017 in Harmon House Care Center, Mt. Pleasant.  She was born November 7, 1952 in Louisa, Kentucky a daughter of the late James Robert and Eva Jean (Ansell) Hardwick.

Most recently, Gertie had been employed as the manager of the Honey Bear Sunoco Store #205 in Connellsville where she was very well known to the regular customers.  Previously, she was employed in the cafeteria of St. John the Baptist RC School, Scottdale where she was affectionately known by the students as “Gweenie -The Lunch Lady.”

Gertie and her husband, Daniel met in October of 1975 at the New Stanton turnpike entrance.  Behind on schedule and running late, Dan had decided to hitch hike for his return trip to Philadelphia to meet the Naval ship he was stationed on.  Ironically, the next car to come along would be his future wife, Gertie, traveling the same direction with her cousin to whom she stated, “I’m picking up one of those hitch hikers!” Her cousin, also in the Navy, prompted Gertie to “at least pick up the Squid” as there was also an Air Force member in the crowd of hitch hikers that day.

During their trip, they discovered they both knew many of the same people.  With things going so well, Gertie detoured her trip to Boston directly to the pier of the ship Dan was to board.  Instinctively, Dan decided to invite Gertie to the party following his honorable discharge which took place on November 6, 1975.  This was followed by Gertie’s birthday on November 7 and the party on November 8.  They have been together since and married three months later on February 29, 1976.

Fate has a lot to do with one’s life and had it been a few minutes earlier or later at the turnpike entrance Gertie and Dan would never have met.

“Thank you fate for the wonderful years we’ve had together.”  In Gertie’s words, she and I were “The ones that used to wasn’t.”

Gertie is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Daniel R. Friend; her son, Paul R. Dillon, Jr. and her grandson, Marc A. Dillon.

There will be no services as Gertie has chosen the donation of her body to medical science.

Arrangements are in the care of GRAFT-JACQUILLARD FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, INC. 303 Pittsburgh St. Scottdale.

The family suggests memorial donations in her memory to any local animal shelter.

To share a message of sympathy, please visit www.gjfuneral.com