Eilene Joann Friend

�� Eilene JoAnn Friend, 67, of Neosho Rapids, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015 at the Richmond Care Center in Richmond, Kansas. She was born October 26, 1947 in Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence and Norma Schade Hinrichs. Eilene attended and graduated from Emporia High School with the Class of 1965. In the years following high school, Eilene worked at Spic N Span Cleaners in Emporia. This is when she met the love of her life, Freddy Friend. They were joined in marriage on January 21, 1967 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia. She spent the next several years raising their family. Eilene re-entered the work force and spent eleven years at I.B.P. She later worked at Hopkins Manufacturing, Dolly Madison and as a cook for the Neosho Rapids Grade School. Eilene retired as a custodian at E.S.U. Eilene was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia. She enjoyed volunteering with her husband for the Army Corps of Engineers, maintaining park properties around Melvern Lake. Eilene will remain dear in the hearts of her husband, Freddy Friend of their home; daughters, Traci Andrews (Chris) of Yates Center, Kansas and Tammy Friend (Monte) of Hutchinson, Kansas; son Troy Friend (Karen) of Lebo, Kansas; brothers, Delmer Hinrichs of Emporia and Michael Hinrichs of Council Grove, Kansas; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Terry Friend on January 4, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia. Burial will follow services at Mt. Hope Cemetery near Neosho Rapids. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home in Lebo. Memorial contributions may be made to the Neosho Rapids Senior Center or the Alzheimer's Association and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.��

Service:

10:00 a.m. Wednesday April 8, 2015��

Messiah Lutheran Church Emporia, Kansas��



Visitation:

6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening��

Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home Lebo, Kansas��