Obituary of Kathleen M. Friedrich

Kathleen was born on May 4, 1948 in Beacon, NY to Henry Jackson and Doris Fryar-Givens. She was the first born and was proud to have been selected by God to be the first of 13 children. She spent many of her early years with a lot of family member in Harlem, NY. She was affectionately known as "Pookie" to many of her close friends. She spent her early educational years at St. Charles Borromeo in Harlem, NY and then completed her formal educational training at Cathedral High School in New York City. After graduating high school, she became a committed employee and held various jobs at Con Edison in New York City. There is where she exercised her Angel like talents to help many family members and friends get jobs at Con Edison. Kathleen was devoted a Catholic and a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church which she attended regularly. Pookie was a caregiver and she brought this attitude of caring for others to her place of employment. She paid many of bills for the customers who could not pay their electric bills. Throughout her daily life it was not uncommon for Kathleen to extend herself, so she could help family, neighbors, and friends. She later met and eventually married Elisha John "Junior" Smith. Together they brought into the world her only child, a daughter Michele Smith Pomales. Unfortunately, Elisha was taken from this earth in 1978. She survived the loss of her husband and was able to provide the best possible life for Michele and herself. In 1984, Kathleen moved to Monticello, NY in search of a better life for herself. She started a new chapter of her life and she was able to find a loving caring church "Rock Hill Church of the Nazarene" where she could continue with her spiritual growth and relationship with God. She then decided in 1988 to obtain her CDL license and then got a job with the Monticello Central School District as a school bus driver. She worked there from 1988 to 2017 and during that time she touched thousands of children's hearts that she encountered. Although many of those children thought she was strict they loved her, and she loved them as if they were here own. In 2007 she met her future husband, Robert Friedrich at the church she attended. After a three-year courtship Robert proposed to her and she accepted his proposal. They were married on July 16, 2011 at the Rock Hill Church of the Nazarene which became the center of their spiritual life. She would often spend a lot of her free time volunteering at the church or out in the community. Kathleen enjoyed traveling, playing cards, cooking for family gatherings, and most importantly spending time with her family. Sunday's were special to her because she enjoyed making a feast for the family, so we could be together. To her getting along and loving each other was most important for her because "Family" is what she lived for. Left to cherish her memories is her husband Robert Friedrich of Monticello, NY, her daughter Michele Smith Pomales and son in-law Elisander Pomales of Woodridge, NY. She had 4 grandchildren: Antoinette, Antianna, Alex, and Aaden and 1 great grandchild: Laisha. She had a total of 12 brothers and sisters: Robert (Valerie) Fryar, Cleve Givens, Eddie White, Anthony Jackson, Charles Jackson, Victor Jackson Sr., Michael Jackson, Christopher Jackson, Victor Jackson Jr., Terri Geter, Phyllis Givens, and Antoinette Fryar. She was predeceased by her mother Doris Givens, her father Henry Jackson, her sister Antoinette Fryar, and her brother Victor Jackson Sr. and leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. I fall asleep in the full and certain hope That my slumber shall not be broken, And that, though I be all-forgetting, Yet shall I not be all-forgotten, But continue that life in the thoughts and deeds of those I have loved. Family and friends are invited to gather on Saturday, June 30 from 3:00 to 6:00pm at the Rock Hill Church of the Nazarene, 210 Katrina Falls Road in Rock Hill, with a funeral service beginning at 6:00pm at the church. Rev. Roy Shaffer will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello NY; for additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com