OBITUARY: David Lawrence Friend
David Lawrence Friend, age 74 of Harrisburg, was born Oct. 8, 1939, to the late Pearl and Josephine Friend in Granite City.
He passed away 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1, 2014, at the Cleveland Clinic of Ohio. His three-month struggle with complications from open-heart surgery was more than his weakened condition could overcome.
David leaves behind his wife, Rita, of 52 years, and three children: Teri Bacher (Joe), Angela Smith (Andy), and Brad Friend (Connie). Besides his immediate family he has 11 grandchildren: Whitney Friend Miles, Lauren Wright, Jonathan Wright, Katie Wright, and Erin Bacher Murdoch (Cyle) all of Harrisburg; Sarah Smith, Molly Smith, Isaac Smith and Noah Smith of Chicago; Jonathan McKinney and Candice McKinney of Crab Orchard; and one great-granddaughter, Carleigh Miles of Harrisburg. He has two brothers-in-law, David Rice of Atlanta, Ga., and Michael Rice of Mesa, Ariz. He has two nephews, Danny Rice of Memphis, Tenn., and Christopher Rice of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and one niece, Jennifer Rice of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and a very special cousin, Sandra McKinnon of Springfield.
David taught band in several Southern Illinois communities in the 60's and 70's. He was a well-known brass teacher in the area and many of his students became professional musicians. He repeatedly judged trumpet participants for both Grade School Solo Contests and All State High School hopefuls. In 1999, he assisted his wife Rita in revitalizing the struggling Harrisburg Band Program.
In 1984, he returned to school and embarked upon a new career as a registered nurse. He worked at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Massac County Hospital in Metropolis and spent several years at Saint Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Ind., working on the Open-Heart Recovery Unit. He ended his nursing career in Harrisburg working in both the E.R. and Special Care Units. Although David loved his second career of nursing, he was always a musician at heart.
David was a member of the elite honorary music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Illinois Grade School Music Association, the Music Educators National Conference, served several years on the Saline County 911 board and was the director of the Harrisburg Chapter of the Barber Shop Chorus for two years.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg with a wake service at 7 p.m. The funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Harrisburg with the Rev. Marc Stec presiding. As per Mr. Friend's request, he will be taken back to the funeral home after mass to be sent to a crematorium. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Harrisburg High School Band. Burial of his ashes will be at a later date.