1913 – 1993 (February 16)
Edward Francis Farrell was born January 12, 1913 in Chicago, Illinois to Martin Farrell and Mary Toomey. After his elementary education he entered Saint Rita High School, Chicago, from which he graduated in 1931. He then studied for two years at Chicago Teachers College, and was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1934. He professed simple vows on September 10, 1935 and solemn vows September 10, 1938. Upon completion of his novitiate, he continued his education at Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, earning a B. A. in Mathematics in 1937. He studied Theology at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., from 1937 to 1940, and was ordained to the diaconate on August 23, 1939.
Deacon Farrell was first assigned to teach in 1940 at Malvern Preparatory High School, Malvern, Pennsylvania. In 1944 he was transferred to Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he remained until 1948. He then joined the staff at Saint Monica Novitiate and the Brothers’ Formation Program, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. In 1985 Deacon Farrell retired and helped with general maintenance at Saint Monica. When Saint Monica Monastery was closed, he returned to Cascia Hall Monastery, Tulsa.
Deacon Farrell died peacefully in the afternoon of February 16, 1993 at Franciscan Villa, Tulsa, after a relatively brief hospitalization for a possible stroke. He was a man of deep humility and dedication as an Augustinian. He was happy to serve the community even in the most menial tasks. He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.
