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Jerome J. Friedman

June 26, 1961 - June 30, 2013

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Obituary For Jerome J. Friedman

Jerome Joseph Friedman. 52. died peacefully at home after a three year battle with colon cancer, lymphoma, and biliary duct cancer.

Jerome is survived by his wife Kathryn ( his wife of 25 years) and his children: Brock(20), Vince(15), Gretchen(13), and Audrey(9) ; His Mother Louise(98) and his five siblings: Brother Paul Friedman, Mary Carol Williams ( Dick) , Luzann Noonan ( Larry), Mark Friedman( Mary), Joan Mistrot (Jacques). Jeromeâ??s nieces and nephews, cousins, and their families will also miss more special times with â??Uncle Jerryâ??. The Klein and Rosenow families also share in this great loss. Jerome will be missed by all who loved him: IBM, The Community of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Family, Friends, and the many athletes whose lives he touched.

Jerome was born to Walter and Louise Friedman on June 26, 1961 in DeKalb, Illinois. The Friedmans moved to Shawano, WI and then Rhinelander, WI. Jerome earned his degree in management from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. He completed post- graduate study in Osaka ,Japan, and returned to the United States to begin work for IBM in 1984. Kathryn and Jerome were married in 1987. They lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jerome loved his faith, his family, and his friends. During his life and illness he learned to â??Let Go and Let God.â?? Trusting and Surrendering to God was a goal. He wrote about his faith-life journey in a book he called The Joy of Life.

Jerome loved his family. He told us he loved us often. He found joy in each dayâ?¦and strived to make each day his â??masterpiece!â?? Jerome embraced life. He thoroughly enjoyed learning with the people with whom he forged relationships. Jerome was a people person. He mentored many and learned from more. He enjoyed challenges and problem solving. He was a coach at heart. He was a life-long learner, and he wanted to share what he knew with others. He enjoyed chess, pool, golf, movies, and watching his beloved Green Bay Packers Football team. He loved to go to the kidsâ?? sporting events and help them improve their game. A highlight for Jerome was any opportunity he had to spend time with his family- especially the Friedman Family Reunions every two years!

Jerome loved coaching : faith, character development, and sports. He had passion. He studied and loved Morgan Wooten, John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, and Pistol Pete Marovich. He loved to see inspirational movies and use them to teach core values to his players.

He lived to exemplify the CHRIST principles that he developed with working with other coaches. *Caring, *Humility, *Respect, *Integrity, *Spirituality/Sportsmanship/Surrender, and *Trust/Teamwork. Those who walked with him on his faith journey understood his commitment to the Lord and his direction in life.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Mark Yoffe, Dr. Matthew Strouch, Dr. Ron Schwarz and the many Nurses, Nursing Aides, patients, and staff at REX Hospital that made a difference in the treatment and care of Jerome while he was battling his ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, lymphoma, and biliary duct cancer. Wake County Hospice Care Team was a blessing. Thank you Kezia and Lisa for coming to the house often and taking the time to get to know our family. You made a difference!

We could not have made this journey without our faith in God, our family, our friends and the Community of St Francis. â??Thank you â?? does not begin to express the deep gratitude we feel. We rejoice in God always!

Visitation with the family will be at the Gathering Space at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC from 6-8pm Monday July 8th.

A Mass of Celebration will take place at The Catholic Community of St Francis of Assisi, Raleigh, NC, 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh NC on Tuesday July 9th at 1 pm. Interment to follow in the St Francis Columbarium. Please join us to celebrate Jeromeâ??s life in person or in prayer!

Jerome had requested that in lieu of flowers donations can be made for the Joy of Life fund. Checks may be payable to Kathryn Friedman/Joy of Life Fund at Wells Fargo 7600 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27615

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Condolences

  • September 01, 2020

    Jerome went from being my manager, to being a friend, to being a trusted friend, to being a role model. I will miss him very much. But I also know he's in Heaven now, no more physical suffering, nothing but divine love all around him. Kathryn and children: I will never forget Jerome, he will always be in my heart. And you will always be in my prayers. May the healing peace of God be with you today and always.

  • September 01, 2020

    May the peace that comes from the memories of love shared comfort you now and in the days ahead. God Bless...

  • September 01, 2020

    May the Lord Jesus Embrace you with his peace that surpasses All understanding. Jerome surely blessed our lives through simply living his. God Bless the entire Jerome Family!

  • September 01, 2020

    I feel so blessed to have known your family and watched your journey over the past 3 years. Jerome lived his faith every day and left this world with the love of God in his heart. His example has touched so many lives- he truly will live forever for those who knew him. I give thanks for your family and celebrate the life of Jereome! May God bless you now and always!

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Friedman Family: May God comfort you and give you peace during this time. Please know we lift you all up in prayer daily. Jerome taught us so much, especially while on this journey with his illnesses. His thoughts and deeds will forever remain in our hearts. Much love to you all!!

  • September 01, 2020

    We're so very sorry for your loss. I had the privledge of knowing Jerome as we coached our daughters in soccer for several seasons at the YMCA. He was a very positive influence on the sidelines. He will be missed.

  • September 01, 2020

    I will miss a great friend who was always a source of inspiration and hope. As in life as well as during long hours at work, Jerome helped me gain a perspective that could be trusted - not to mention a sense of humor that kept it in perspective. I am grateful for the time we had together this past May during our 1,000 mile good-bye trip. Always in my thoughts.

  • September 01, 2020

    So sorry for your loss. He fought a tough battle. May God give him eternal peace. Our prayers are with all the family.

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Friedman Family, You are all truly amazing. Jerome taught us all what it means to be truly courageous in our hearts, and place all hope in the lord. He was a true inspiration. Our prayers are with you all. Suzanne, Grady John, Riley and Ryan

  • September 01, 2020

    Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We are so sorry for your loss and will continue to hold your family in prayer and Jerome's memory in our hearts. With love, Tom, Michelle, Joseph & Jenni.

  • September 01, 2020

    Our family is here for you any time you need us. We love you all.

  • September 01, 2020

    From the entire Jones Family to the entire Friedman Family. Sending you love, prayers and wishes for peace. We are and will continue to be here for you. May we always remember Jerome and seek to find the daily Joy he so often spoke of.

  • September 01, 2020

    We were with you today in spirit. Brendan in Maine, Nora, Bill and Alexandra in PA. We joined you in prayer at 1 PM. We will never forget Jerome and only wish we could have shared more with him. His words and courage will live in our hearts daily. You are all in our prayers. You have all taught us so much. We are certain Jerome is rejoicing in our Lord's presence now and always. Love all the Murphy's

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Kathryn, Brock, Vince, Gretchen and Audrey, What a wonderful celebration of Jerome's life today at St. Francis. I cancelled a previously scheduled business trip to Chicago today to attend the funeral mass and I am SO glad I was there. You have a beautiful family and Jerome's legacy will love on in all of you. I am truly honored to have known Jerome and to be your neighbor and friend. Thank you for helping me to realize what a wonderful community of faith that I am blessed to be a part of. The Albright family will always be just across the street whenever you need us! I am praying for all of you. Heaven has just gotten brighter now that Jerome is there! xoxo

  • September 01, 2020

    We have been lifting your entire family daily in prayer. Would have loved to be there for the services but have been in Ohio visiting family for three weeks. I feel honored and privledged to have known Jerome as I have. I can only imagine his Joy right now... We love you all and will be keeping you in prayer daily.

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Kathryn, Brock, Vince, Gretchen, and Audry: Our thoughts and prayers are with each one of you and we regret that we were unavailable to attend Jerome's celebration of life service. You are a truely amazing family! May God continue to guide you all and put smiles of happy memories onto your faces and into each of your hearts! Love, John, Lori, Delaney, Kennedy and Tanner Briggs

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Ms. Kathryn, Brock, Vince, Gretchen & Audrey, We are all so sorry to learn of Jerome's passing. Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers and that we are here for you in any way that might help. Jerome was an extraordinary man, full of faith and love for his extraordinary family. May God give you comfort and strength. With love, Erin, James, Elizabeth, Patrick & Thomas

  • September 01, 2020

    Kathryn, I am very sorry for your loss. Although I never knew Jerome I was aware of his fight with cancer and thought of him and you often. You are blessed with a beautiful family and have many loving friends, I hope through this you will find some comfort. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • September 01, 2020

    May God comfort you all. We remember Jerome as a wonderful coach who took the time to teach our boys about more than just basketball - life lessons they will always carry with them. We are thankful that Patrick got to be coached by him. Love and prayers to all of you.

  • September 01, 2020

    Jerome fought his battle with great optimism, faith, grace and the abundant love of his family. May that love and the love of God surround you now, as you celebrate his life and mourn the lack of his physical presence with you on earth. May your great memories keep him alive in your heart always, and until you meet again, may God hold him in the palm of his hand.

  • September 01, 2020

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you

  • September 01, 2020

    My prayers are with all of you. May you take comfort in knowing Jerome's love lives on in each of you, his heavenly eyes watching over you.

  • September 01, 2020

    Jerome's amazing examples of strength, humility, humor and caring is an inspiration me to be a better Christian, man, father and friend. We will not be able to make the services but the Friedman family is in our thoughts and prayers during this tough time, God bless.

  • September 01, 2020

    I met Jerome (JJ) in college at the University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire. He always impressed me because he always had a great attitude, a nice sense of humor, and a smile on his face. The world is a better place because because of who he was. My thoughts and prayers to Kathryn and family.

  • September 01, 2020

    Kathryn, "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." Jerome will be sadly missed. His faith was truly an inspiration to all. Love, the Vigo family

  • September 01, 2020

    I knew Jerome as a man who honored his faith, family, and friends. I am a better person for having known him. My heart and prayers are with Kathryn and the Friedman family. Jerome will be missed and will always be remembered.

  • September 01, 2020

    Our hearts and prayers are with you.

  • September 01, 2020

    Although I did not know Jerome, I have a sense of who he was from my interactions with his son, Vince. It is obvious that he shared his love of God, and influenced a strong sense of faith and community with his children. Know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers at this time. Through you grieve, may you find joy in remembering a life well lived.

  • September 01, 2020

    We were so very fortunate to have Jerry coach Brendan's basketball team one year. He learned more than game skills; Jerry taught the players the art of teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship. Beyond that, our family gained a friend. Jerry always stopped to say hello before or after Mass and ask how everyone in the family was doing, even after he became sick and standing around to chat was a physical chore. We will miss great smile and easy demeanor, and our thoughts are with Kathryn, Brock and the rest of the family.

  • September 01, 2020

    Kathryn, Brock and Family, Our hearts go out to you. So Sorry to have one so young and full of spirit taken from you. Helen, JOhn, Michael and Victoria

  • September 01, 2020

    Kathryn and children, I am very sorry for your loss. May God be with all of you in this time of sorrow.

  • September 01, 2020

    We are deeply saddened to hear of your loss. We pray that God will embrace you in His loving arms, and give you strength in this difficult time. God has called back one of His angels. May you be comforted in knowing friends are praying for you.

  • September 01, 2020

    I am so sorry for your loss. The Bible provides comfort during these difficult times. Revelation 21:3,4 states "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away". Very soon now, we will never experience losing our loved ones in death. Hope these words give you a new hope.

  • September 01, 2020

    The Friedman Family, I pray your love lift you, your faith hold you and your memories never leave you and to Jerome, welcome home.

  • September 01, 2020

    No matter how prepared you are a moment like this reminds us all how fragile life can be. We hope you feel our love embrace in this time of need as we are praying for GOD to surround you all with his circle of love to provide strength and faith.

  • September 01, 2020

    Friedman Family, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. We know that Jerome was a wonderful loving husband and father. May you find comfort in your faith with the help of your family and friends at this time.

  • September 01, 2020

    Dear Kathryn, Ann and I are saddened to hear of your loss. 0ver the years when Glenn Danz, Bill Ziemendorf , Jerry Matysik and I talk of our days at KT, our times with your husband are reminisced. To his KT colleagues, Jerry was the young RA that we would tease as we knew he would laugh the loudest. I smiled as a reflex every time Jerry entered the room and a smile returns whenever I think of him. He was a sweet and decent young man who no doubt realized earlier than most of us that sweetness and decency are two of the greatest virtues. To the children of my friend, know that your father was a truly tremendous young college man. He was energetic, eager, funny and sensitive. Jerry was respectful of everyone he encountered. I can only imagine he was a wonderful father. I know that this world is better for having Jerome Friedman in it, even if the time was not long enough. Love to you, Randy and Ann Kumm

  • September 01, 2020

    Kathryn-- I'm so sorry for your loss. Jerome was an amazing man. I'm blessed to count him as a friend. Back from our days at UW-EC to our days in the U.P. and visiting you both in Green Bay -- Jerome showed himself to be a man of strong faith and character. He will be deeply missed by so many. The way you have described how he lived day to day facing the adversity he's faced these past years is a strong witness. JJ lived out the faith he confessed. Know that you will remain in my prayers.

  • September 01, 2020

    Friedman Family, We send our love and prayers to you all as you grieve the loss of your husband and father! May you find comfort in each other's love and the love of all your friends! We will hold you in our prayers always! Love, Mark & Carol DeLaRosa

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