Obituary of Sherrill Sue Friedman

Sherrill Sue Niblick Friedman, 75, of Niles, Michigan, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in her home of 44 years after a long battle with cancer.

Sherrill was born Aug. 19, 1943, in South Bend, Indiana, the only child of Forrest Thomas Niblick and Carolyn Louise Fredericks Hess. She attended St. Monica Catholic School and Mishawaka High School before earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University at Bloomington. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. Her nursing career included roles as a hospital administrator, at Riverwood Center and most recently at Holy Cross House in South Bend. She was a successful consultant of Mary Kay Cosmetics.

With the late George Joseph Friedman, she raised two children, Nancy Kathleen Friedman of Niles and Eric Joseph Friedman of Midland, Michigan.

She loved soaking up the sun and could often be found by the pool, and like the sun, dear friends gravitated around her.

Sherrill enjoyed golf, cruises, gardening, musical theater and dancing, especially to ’40s and ’50s music. She loved hosting her grandchildren for Grandma Camp. Her TV was always tuned to sports, including tennis, golf and Fighting Irish football, and a Diet Coke was never far from her hand. For many years, she had season tickets to cheer for Notre Dame women’s basketball.

After completing Alcoholics Anonymous 34 years ago, she served as a volunteer. She volunteered for the University of Notre Dame as a football usher for guests with special needs and as a docent at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Indiana. Her answering machine and voicemail messages always ended with, “And remember, Go Irish!”

Sherrill was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children, Nancy Friedman of Niles and Eric (Jodi) Friedman of Midland, Michigan; her four grandchildren, Eden, Ava, Seth and Theodore Friedman; her goddaughter Sarah Keel of Edwardsburg; special friend Joan Crumbliss of Michigan City and many loving friends.

Visitation will take place from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at Brown Funeral Home, Niles, with The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Readiness Center of Benton Harbor.