Sydney Leigh (Friel) McHugh

Sydney Leigh McHugh passed away September 2, 2021 at the age of 70. She leaves two sisters: Lindsay Ann Zierolf (Robert) and Patricia Elizabeth Friel; a niece: Gretchen Marie Zierolf; and many cousins.

Roy H. Friel and M. Jane Friel welcomed Sydney Leigh into the world on June 19, 1951 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville, OH. She was a vivacious little girl. Graduating from Zanesville High School in 1969, Sydney went on to earn a BA degree in Communication Arts from Ohio State University in 1973. The Procter and Gamble Company (P&G) recruited her to work in their Market Research Department following graduation. By the time she retired in 1999, she was Public Relations Manager. A few years after leaving P&G, Sydney started a part time position at Sunny Delight, where she took on special projects including their annual Environmental Impact Report. She also worked as an independent contractor, providing media training, message development, and crisis communication for P&G executives and other individuals and companies.

In the middle 1970s, Sydney met Frank McHugh, the owner of a market research company in Philadelphia. They were married in 1980 and enjoyed an active social life, buying houses and turning them into homes, and traveling until Frank’s death in 2008. Frank had three children: Anne Krakau, Gloria McHugh, and Brendan McHugh whom Sydney welcomed with open arms. She was always happy to see them and shared Frank’s delight in his four grandchildren as they were born and grew into young adulthood.

Having had her lifetime quota of radiation at age 27 to cure Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Sydney developed health problems in her 50s and 60s. She was resilient and recovered from several major surgeries during those years. Late in August, she traveled with her sister Patricia to Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, GA, to undergo experimental transcatheter surgery to replace her heart’s mitral valve. She survived the surgery, but later succumbed to complications.

For many years, Sydney was on the Advisory Board of the Breast Cancer Registry of Greater Cincinnati. She was a member of the Hyde Park United Methodist Church where she joined The Bad Girls Book Club. She also served as secretary of her neighborhood Homeowners Association for many years.  Her hobbies included: reading, watching movies, needlepointing, working jigsaw and crossword puzzles, container gardening in the summer, and especially getting together with family and friends. Sydney was always filled with a zest for life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a cancer or heart charity in Sydney’s name.

Masks are required by the family for admittance for the calling and funeral.

Friends and family may call from 6-8 P.M. Saturday, September 11, 2021 at BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME, 1271 BLUE AVENUE, ZANESVILLE where funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, September 12, 2021 with Pastor Karen Montgomery officiating. She will be laid to rest at Zanesville Memorial Park Cemetery, 1475 Military Road, Zanesville.

A memorial service will be held in Cincinnati at a date TBA.

To send a note of condolence to the family or order flowers, visit: www.bolin-dierkesfuneralhome.com, follow us on Facebook or call our professional staff at 740-452-4551.

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