Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries will celebrate the funeral Mass for Father Robert E. Friedel at 11 a.m. Nov. 14 at SS. Cosmas & Damian Church, 10419 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg. Father John Chlebo will be homilist. Bishop emeritus Martin Amos presided at vespers and was homilist on Nov. 13, also at SS. Cosmas & Damian Church.
Father Friedel, 87, died on Nov. 8. He was pastor emeritus of SS. Cosmas & Damian Parish.
Father Fridedel was born on June 30, 1931 to the late Robert A. and Elizabeth A. (Corrigan) Friedel. He was educated at St. Clement Elementary School, Lakewood; St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland; John Carroll University, University Heights; St. Charles College, Baltimore; and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland. Archbishop Edward Hoban ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 18, 1957 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Father Friedel?s first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish, Cleveland. On Aug. 2, 1962, he was transferred to St. Francis de Sales Parish, Akron to serve as parochial vicar. Father Friedel was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Painesville on Sept. 30, 1969, and was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Bridget of Kildare, Parma Parish in Parma on June 17, 1970. On June 30, 1975, he was transferred to Holy Family Parish, Parma to serve as parochial vicar.
Father Friedel was named pastor of SS Cosmas & Damian Parish in Twinsburg on May 12, 1978, and he served there until his retirement on June 30, 2002, when he was named pastor emeritus.
According to those who knew him, he was a true gentleman and a faithful servant of the Church, as well as a good pastor and a holy priest.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Cleveland.
