Patricia Mary McDermott Farrell left this world on November 27, 2019 to dance again with her husband, Bertrand Joseph Farrell, Sr. who preceded her in death in January 1980. Pat was three weeks shy of her 96th birthday.
Patricia was born on December 15, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois to Kenneth and Winifred (nee Mulcrone) McDermott. She was the eldest sibling to her sisters Geraldine McDermott Williamson and Mary Ann McDermott Henry.
After graduating from Aquinas High School in Chicago, Patricia attended Mundelein College but left before graduating. According to her father, “Pat thinks she knows everything!”
In 1947 she and Bert married. After a move to Michigan, and then to Texas and another move back to Michigan, Pat and Bert moved back to the Chicago area making Wheaton their home. In 1961 Pat and Bert moved into their newly built home on Swan Lake Dr. in Wheaton, IL where they continued raising their nine children and lived until Bert’s death. No matter what kind of crisis arose during those years her Irish eyes were always smiling. She was a passionate bridge player and entertainer. Pat claimed to be an average housewife with no particular talent, but in the late 1960s the Winfield Glimpses newspaper honored Pat with the distinction of “Homemaker of the Week,” an honor bestowed upon her because of her sewing, knitting, and crewel talents (no mention of cooking).
For decades Pat volunteered at Central DuPage Hospital’s Gift Shop in Winfield. Beginning in the 1980s she also dabbled in the workforce at various jobs including working for the DuPage County Health department administering hearing tests for school children; photographer’s assistant for annual student photo days at schools throughout the western Chicago suburbs; and back-office processing of census forms for the 1990 U.S. Census.
Pat enjoyed her many trips crisscrossing the country to visit her children, from California to Florida. She had a flair for travel adventure, including a helicopter ride over Kauai, cruise ship through the Panama Canal, a winter escape to the Dominican Republic, a European holiday with her girlfriends, and an epic 3-generation trip (with her mother, two sisters and eldest daughter) to County Mayo Ireland, the land of her people.
In 2010 Pat moved into Brookdale of Lisle, IL. where she immediately became the “life of the party!” making friends with many of the staff and residents. Patricia was always ready with a quick smile and a very long story. While living at Brookdale she developed her talents in art and journal writing. And, although she loved winning at Bingo, she always thought the bite sized candy bars should have been bigger! She remained a resident at Brookdale until her death.
Patricia is survived by her nine children, Kathleen (Doug Riel), Bertrand Joseph, Jr. (Cindy), Danny (Karen), Martha (Mike) Staten, Lisa (Michael) Shanahan, Ann (Randy) Burr, Cecilia “Sam” (John) Cieplak, Matthew (Susan), Nora (Joe) Bentivoglio, 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren all of whom are scattered about the country.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to PACTT Learning Center
712 Belleforte, Oak Park, IL 60302 or online at www.pactt.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Blake-LambFuneralHome.com for the Farrell family.
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