Rev. Fr. Ralph J. Friedrich

Rev. Fr. Ralph J. Friedrich, age 93 passed away April 18, 2011 at the House of Loretto in Canton. Fr. Friedrich was born June 21, 1917 in Massillon to the late Joseph & Helen (Donant) Friedrich. He was a graduate of St. John High School (Canton, 1935), St. Charles College (Catonsville, MD) Catholic University (Washington, DC), St. Mary’s Seminary (Cleveland). He was the first priest ordained in the Diocese of Youngstown on December 18, 1943. He served at the following churches: St. Columba Cathedral, St. Patrick in Hubbard, St. Joseph in Maximo, Immaculate Conception in Youngstown, St. Joseph in Ashtabula. In 1971 he joined the Maryknoll Order as a missionary in Central America. In 1976 he returned to the Diocese and served at St. Mary’s, Orwell until 1980. In 1981 he returned to Central America to continue his missionary work and remained with the Order until retiring in 1992. In 1992 he moved to the Emmaus House for Priests. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers: Paul Friedrich of Dayton and James Friedrich of Massillon. He is survived by a sister Rita Awkerman of Canton and a sister in law Joanne Friedrich of Massillon and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Tuesday April 26, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Massillon. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 6-8 PM at the Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon, and from 10 AM until the service at the church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to the Maryknoll Missions, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. Messages of support and sympathy can be sent to the family at www.paquelet.com. Paquelet-Massillon A Golden Rule Funeral Home 330-833-3222