Obituary of Doris E. Friend

Doris Schwanhausser Friend died peacefully in her sleep Thursday night. She had recently celebrated her 95^th birthday with her family.

Mrs. Friend was born in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Fredrick Schwanhausser Jr. and Eleanor Schmid Schwanhausser of Short Hills, NJ. She was a graduate of Kent Place School in Summit, NJ and Wellesley College.

A longtime resident of Rowayton, South Norwalk and New Canaan, Mrs. Friend was very active in community affairs. She was a member of the Junior League of Stamford- Norwalk where she helped to start a volunteer art appreciation enrichment program in local public elementary schools. Mrs. Friend was a member of a number of local garden clubs where she often lectured on flower arranging. She was one of the founding forces in the revitalization and restoration of Lockwood Matthew Mansion Museum, where she remained a Trustee Emeritus.

Mrs. Friend was an avid golfer and happily counted her strokes at Wee Burn Country Club for over 50 years. She loved to play bridge and was a member of several bridge clubs including one with her Rowayton friends which played together for over 30 years. Wee Burn was also a favorite where she participated in the duplicate bridge group. Flowers were a passion and nowhere more important to her than as a member of the flower guild at St. Luke’s Parish.  

Family and friends joined her and her husband, Bill, on many of their excursions throughout the world. She felt that traveling to other countries opened up your eyes to the many cultures and beauties that the world offered. 

Mrs. Friend is predeceased by her husband, Walter W. Friend, Jr., of 42 years. She is survived by her son Walter W. Friend, III and his wife Patricia of Dennis, MA; a daughter Eleanor Friend Hickok of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren, Hilary DiFilippo, Timothy Friend, Courtney and James Hickok; as well as three great grandchildren Violet and Edward DiFilippo and Paxton Friend.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Parish in Darien on Saturday September 7^th at 11:00 am with a reception to follow at the Wee Burn Country Club.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to St. Luke’s Parish Flower Guild, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820, Planned Parenthood of Southern NE 345 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT 06511, or the charity of your choice.