Thomas "Tom" Jeffrey Friel

Thomas “Tom” Jeffrey Friel, loving husband, father, and “Grampy”, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at his home in Martinez, Georgia, after nearly a decade of battling Alzheimer’s Disease, under the full-time loving care of his devoted wife, Carla, with several years of support by hospice care.

Tom was born on November 5, 1949 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, to Warren and Betty Friel. Growing up, Tom and his two brothers, Jack and Huck, learned the mechanics and precision care of automobiles and rode with their father on the milk delivery truck. They were the first generation in their family to pursue higher education. Tom attended Boyce Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County for two years, where he was on the golf team. He then transferred to Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 1970 (following the tragic shooting). Later, he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix while working and living in Utah.

Tom was caring, determined, and loyal in all aspects of family, work, and life. He married Carla in 1976, and their son Justin was born in in 1981 in Pittsburgh. Tom had begun his lifelong career in Finance at Mine Safety Appliances after college, and shortly afterwards went to Westinghouse Nuclear Center in Pennsylvania. Throughout Tom’s career as Financial Planning Manager, he and Carla and Justin enjoyed living in different parts of the United States, including Utah, where Tom worked at Western Zirconium; Ohio, where he worked at Fernald; and finally, Georgia, where he held his final position at Savannah River Site, living out his years in Martinez.

Tom had his priorities in order. Above all, he loved Christ and His church. He was a devoted parishioner of Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church and served in the Eucharistic, Stewardship, and Perpetual Adoration ministries there. After God, Tom considered his family next, always putting them above his own needs. He emphasized vacations and traditions, and encouraged family, friends, and employees in maintaining a good work-life balance. He personally enjoyed vacationing in Hilton Head Island and taking road trips to visit and help relatives (or ride roller coasters) all over the country. After his retirement, Tom and Carla were able to take an Alaskan cruise as well as a Danube River cruise in Europe with friends!

Tom enjoyed life! He was an avid lover of automobiles, music, coffee, wine, family adventures, and all sports, including golf, racquetball, and skiing. He was fun-loving but also very organized and precise, keeping detailed records of finances and projects he worked on, which included countless home renovations and extensive vehicle upkeep. Every weekend you could find him washing and detailing his cars in the driveway (and many times he would be diligently giving them their monthly waxing or 1,500-mile oil changes!) He drove and meticulously cared for his red Buick Century for over 200,000 miles, and his white Chevrolet Celebrity for over 450,000 miles! However, he did not keep an attachment to material things and cheerfully gave away his possessions once he no longer needed them, including his cars. Tom lived charitably in many ways; in his retirement, he served on the Board of Directors of Golden Harvest Food Bank, where he advocated for safety regulations, and regularly volunteered at its soup kitchen, The Master’s Table.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Warren John and Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Friel, and his brother and sister-in-law, John “Jack” and Dona Friel. He is survived by his wife, Carla Ann Friel; son, Justin Thomas Friel (Lane); four grandchildren, Joanna Catherine, Mary Elizabeth, Charles Michael, and Andrew Justin Friel; brother, James “Huck” Friel (Beverly); sisters-in-law, Loretta O’Brien (Kenny) and Elaine Jones; brother-in-law, Charles Chelko (Becky); as well as many generations of multiple nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Diane Crawford; Hospice Services of Georgia staff, including Judi, Samantha, Laquisha, LaKendra, Susan, and Chaplain Bob; and Carolyn Williams and Courtney Middleton of Trinity Hospice Care.

The funeral mass will be held on January 9, 2026 at Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta, Georgia at 11:00 am, with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant (livestream available at www.stmaryonthehill.org). The family will be receiving guests in the narthex at 10:15 am before the mass, and afterwards in the parish hall.

Please sign the guestbook at Thomaspoteet.com