Ellen Lorraine Friedrich, 71, of Charleston, SC, entered peacefully into spiritual life on December 09, 2021, at her home in Charleston, S.C.

Born on May 31, 1950, in Paterson, NJ, Ellen was the daughter of Robert Alexander Friedrich and Nolda Elizabeth Brewer Friedrich.

Dr. Ellen Friedrich, Professor Emerita, retired from Valdosta State University. She was a Fulbright Scholar; a French, Portuguese, and Spanish teacher; Medieval/Arthurian Scholar; published author; and presenter of approximately fifty-two scholarly papers, essays, titled discussions, and workshops. She enjoyed being a Latin & folk dance instructor, also.

Ellen held consulting, instructional, and other positions at the University of Georgia, the Centro de Línguas and Instituto de Formação Bancária in Portugal, The Citadel, Wesleyan College, University of North Carolina, Presbyterian College, and Valdosta State University. She taught students for over 30 years while directing the University Study Abroad Programs in Spain and France. She was a Consultant at the Académie de Bordeaux in France; she chaired Language Departments, presided on councils, panels, or seminar series, with the AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese), SAMLA (South Atlantic Modern Language Association), SCOLT (Southern Conference on Language Teaching), SEMA (Southeastern Medieval Association), and the MLA (Modern Language Association).

She was a Book Review Editor of Arthuriana, Journal of the International Arthurian Society and conducted piercing intellectual work on Guillaume de Lorris’ "Le Roman de la Rose”, a 4000 line 12th century Old French poem, translated by Chaucer, and taught by C.S. Lewis.

Besides her sisters, Deborah Friedrich Philips, Carla Augusta Friedrich, and family friend, Jo Hulsebus, Ellen is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews: Madara Mason (Christopher Miles), Alexis Mason Howard (Jon), Meryl Mason Simons (Greg), Kelsey Philips Show (Chas), Taylor Philips, Louise Friedrich McCowan (Robert), Alan Friedrich Murphy (Pat); a number of great-nieces and nephews: Zoe, Finn, Gregory, Elena, Charlotte, Louise, Jane, Friedrich, Marron, Sloan, and Bethy; first cousins Donald Dearing and Grace Dearing Quarles; and extended family and friends worldwide.

In lieu of flowers, plans are underway for any contributions to be transferred to a future student study/travel abroad fund through the university (see purpose of this post by her niece, Alan Friedrich Murphy.) 

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL & CREMATION, James Island, 347 Folly Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, (843) 614-8494

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