SACO — Jewell Averill Friedman, 87, of Saco, passed away on July 12, 2014.
She was born on Nov. 13, 1926 in Lakewood, Ohio, the daughter of Margaret Greife Averill and Peter Averill.
After graduating from Manchester High School in Connecticut, her interest in writing led her to work for The Manchester Evening Herald, where she met her future husband, Donald. He was her editor and taught her journalism.
They married after he proposed a deal where, if she would learn to ski, she could go to college. She graduated from The University of Connecticut and worked as reporter for The Hartford Times. She then worked at the State Capitol as a reporter and later as a University of Connecticut liaison with the Connecticut Legislature.
Jewell and Don enjoyed 53 wonderful years of marriage together. They traveled the world and enjoyed an active lifestyle of skiing, skating, hiking and swimming. They vacationed during the summers on the North Shore in or near Cape Ann, Massachusetts.
They lived in Storrs, Connecticut, Franconia, New Hampshire, and most recently Saco, where Jewell fulfilled her dream of living “in a cottage by the sea.” They were often seen walking their large, white Samoyed along the streets of Franconia and Saco. They met many friends while walking their dog, and Jewell continued to walk her dog after Don’s death in February.
She was preceded in death by: her brother, Paul Barnes Averill and his wife Ruth.
She is survived by: her brother, Robert Charles Averill and his wife Vera of Connecticut; her sister, Jean Louise Hawley of Arizona; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Saco, and her faithful dog, Selena.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the SCU at the Maine Medical Center for their care of Jewell.
A memorial service will be held at a later date for family and friends. To sign the guestbook or leave condolences, go to www.cotefuneralhome.com. Donations may be made in memory of Jewell Friedman to the “Friedman Prize in Journalism.” Please make checks payable to The UConn Foundation, Inc., 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269; please specify “Friedman Prize in Journalism.”
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