Lois G. “Jennie” Friedrich

Lois G. “Jennie” Friedrich, age 98, of Canton, Illinois, formerly of Astoria, Illinois, passed away on Friday, July 10, 2026 at Red Oak in Canton. She was born on September 10, 1927 in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of Joseph and Lois (Smith) Markello. On April 10, 1946, Jennie married Clifford Phoebus in Palmyra, Missouri. He passed away on July 2, 1982. She later married Donald Friedrich on December 23, 1978 in Pekin, Illinois. He preceded her in death on May 7, 2024.

She was also preceded in death by her two brothers, John and William Markello and her sister Fern Kaps.

Jennie is survived by her two daughters; Joyce (and Robert) Batterton of Farmington, Illinois and Cynthia (and Dennis) Ratcliff of Astoria, four step-children; Mark Friedrich of Deland, Florida, Jon (and Grace) Friedrich of Spring Lake, Illinois, Chris Friedrich of Hannibal, Missouri and Paula Gensel of Pekin, Illinois, her sister-in-law Rose Markello of Canton, eight grandchildren; Stacey (and Richard) Meehan, Bradley (and Bambi) Beekman, Chad (and Heather) Beekman, Kelly (and Tom) Carlock, Ginger (and Milton) Briney, Tanya (and Jason) Graham, Anissa (and Matthew) Frye and Joseph (and Jannell) Ratcliff, thirty great-grandchildren and twenty-seven great-great-grandchildren.

Jennie worked as a telephone operator for the city of Astoria. She then became a licensed hair stylist, owning and operating her own beauty shop in Vermont, Illinois. She last worked for Witzig’s Clothing Store in Morton, Illinois. She also sold Figurette clothing apparel.

She enjoyed sun bathing and shopping for clothes. She loved her family dearly, always wanting to be fully informed of what was going on in their lives.

Jennie’s life will be celebrated on Monday, July 13th at 3:00 p.m. at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria. Pastor Hugh Carlock will officiate. Visitation will take place on Monday from 1-3 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be held in the Astoria Cemetery. Memorials in her memory may be given to Willow Ridge Hospice in Havana, Illinois or Red Oak Memory Care in Canton.