Cathy Friedel

Cathy lived an adventure filled life. The daughter of a career Air Force father, she lived all over the United States as well as in Japan and Germany. In 1966, she was crowned Miss Bitburg (Germany) and graduated with honors from Bitburg High School for US military dependents.

In 1986, at 38 years old, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Long Island University Brooklyn campus. Cathy graduated as Valedictorian and gave the Commencement Address to her fellow students, faculty, guests, and distinguished dignitaries.

She had a fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse beginning at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. After moving to NJ, she expanded her nursing skills to the Pulmonary and cardiac Surgical Intensive Care specialties at Deborah Heart & Lung Center in Browns Mills. At this facility she made lifelong friends and acted as both a charge nurse and mentor to new nurses. She and her daughter Cindy, also a Registered Nurse, had the unique experience of working in adjacent patient care units at Deborah. After more than a decade at DHLC, she took her skills to Temple University Hospital in cardiac transplant. She closed out her career as an inspector of long term care facilities for the State of New Jersey. In this role, she fiercely advocated for the rights and dignity of her patients.

Cathy’s passion for travel extended into adulthood with return trips to Germany, Switzerland, and France, as well as new adventures in Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico and several Caribbean Islands.

Cathy possessed many talents and interests such as drawing, singing, antique furniture restoration, sewing, cooking, baking, and boatmanship.

Her love of sailing, which began with her devoted husband Bob, saw her making treasured friendships, visiting exciting destinations like Key West, Marathon, Captiva, Marco Island and Naples in Florida as well as extensive cruising in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. Cathy and Bob delivered their boat from southern New Jersey to Cape Coral, Florida to complete their retirement transition to the Sunshine State.

Since 2014, Cathy was a dedicated member of Caloosahatchee Marching and Chowder Society where she served as the Chair of the Membership and Recruitment Committee.

Cathy was a vivacious, talented, intelligent, and generous person who was loved by all she brought into her fold. She will be remembered for her dynamic smile, hearty laugh, great sense of humor, and love of cooking and social gatherings with those dear to her.

Cathy is survived by her beloved spouse of 15 years, Robert Friedel, her adult daughter Cynthia Adoniz-Paulits and son-in-law Mark, brother James Ammerman and sister-in-law Robyn, brother Ken Ammerman, nephew Seth Ammerman and family, nephew Sean Ammerman and family, and niece Tess Ammerman. She is also survived by nephew Jason Tirado Adoniz and stepdaughter Elaine Martin.

Preceded in death by father Robert Eugene Ammerman and mother Jean Wray Nancarrow Ammerman.

A viewing will be held Monday, June 28th from 4-6pm. Loved ones are welcome to share memories and speak between 6-6:30pm.