Aleta Friend

Aleta D. Friend, 75, of Oakland died on May 22, 2025, at Garrett Regional Medical Center, Oakland, MD. Born on March 19, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Delmar Charles Dillley and Arlena Ann (Shrout) Dilley.

Aleta was a wife, mother, homemaker, and caretaker. She was married to Terry Knotts for 30 years. They shared a child, Loriann. His death was a great loss for both Aleta and Loriann. Aleta married Donnie Friend 22 years ago. They had many happy years together. He was her husband, her friend, and eventually, her caregiver. In Aleta's spare time, she wrote poetry and read books. She once loved to take care of her flowers and enjoyed nature. During her younger years, she owned a horse. She had many stories to share about her adventures on and off horseback. Aleta was part of a lunch group, "The Golden Girls", a group of high school friends who met monthly to reminisce about the "old days" and the "new days". Karen, Faye, Mary Jane, Harriet, Linda S., Linda M., Linda H. and Linda N. will miss her and talk about her often with love. Dear Aleta, we will laugh when we remember your silly poems. We will remember your kind nature and gentle heart.

She is survived by her husband, Donald W. Friend, Sr.; daughter, Loriann D. (Knotts) Ludwig; stepdaughters, Deanna Chapman and husband Donnie, Stacy Hauser and husband Bryan, and Kayla Smith and husband Aaron; two grandsons, Derek Ludwig, and Jesse Ludwig and partner Natasha; step-grandchildren, Donald Chapman III, Riley Chapman, Alayna Chapman, Faith Hauser, Jordan Friend, Braydan Smith, Kaysen Smith, and Braelynn Hauser; great-grandchildren, Ryder Ludwig and River Ann Ludwig; step great-grandson, Waylon Chapman; two sisters, Glenna Miller and husband Ralph, and Gloria Jean Roth and husband Cecil; a brother, Eugene Dilley; a sister-in-law, Marguerite "Kitty" Dilley; and a very special surviving aunt, Lucille Ludvigsen; also surviving are nieces and nephews, Jerry Roth, Mark Roth, Aaron Roth, Jeff Roth, Ty Preston Miller, Bridget Corbin, Jason Dilley, Nicole Butina, Steve Dilley, and Beth Miller. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Terry E. Knotts; a brother, Ronald Dilley; a sister-in-law, Judy Dilley, and a son-in-law, Robert "Robbie" Ludwig.

Friends will be received at the Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes, P.A. - Oakland Chapel, 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Tuesday, May 27th from 12 noon until 2 PM. A funeral service will follow at 2 PM, with Rev. Marty Wilt officiating. Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Aleta may be made to Breakthrough T1D, P.O. Box 5021, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021, for juvenile diabetes research.

Fredlock & Fenner Funeral Homes is honored to be serving the Friend family.