Sister Joan Farrell, a resident at St Catherine’s Aged Care in Bathurst, passed away peacefully on 23 September, aged 94 years.
Sr Farrell was born in Orange, the second of nine children. The Farrell family are well known in Orange as the descendants of Michael Farrell who came from Ireland to settle in 1864. The family has been associated with many community activities in the area over the years, and Farrell Road exists on the north side of Orange, in recognition of the family.
Sr Farrell’s early life as the eldest daughter was spent focusing on assisting her family with domestic duties. Her mother ran a general store and her father worked and managed retail shops. In her teens and 20’s she helped with the administration of Raffin’s Men’s Store in Orange but always felt a calling to something higher, feeling she should be ‘helping somebody’, perhaps in a religious order.
In 1954, when she was 24 years old, Sr Farrell entered the convent of the St Joseph Sisters (founded by St Mary MacKillop) at Perthville and took the name of Sister Mary Elizabeth. She spent over two years in the convent, undertook teacher training and was sent to Gulgong as the principal of the local Catholic School.
Throughout her lifetime, she had many transfers in the Western districts of NSW including Forest Reefs, Wattle Flats, Coonabarabran, Oberon, Molong, Blayney, Manildra and Portland. In her later years she ministered at St Joseph’s College at Perthville and was student testing officer at the Catholic Education Office, before acting as congregational bursar and serving on the Perthville College Board and membership of the rural ministry and justice groups.
After Sr Farrell ‘retired’, she continued to undertake significant pastoral work in the parishes of Oberon, Molong, Manildra and finally in Bathurst.
Sr Farrell touched the lives of many including family, students and their parents, church parishioners, friends and her religious community, and maintained contact with many of them, including some that she taught in primary school. She had a placid, compassionate and friendly demeanour and was easy to like. She had an innate ability to befriend those she met and fulfilled her lifelong wish to be ‘helping somebody’.
“Sister Joan is held in high regard by all at St Catherine’s. She was fiercely independent right until her final days and had a gentle, welcoming smile – she will be missed,” says Angela, Residential Manager.
At the time of her death, Joan is survived by three sisters, 25 nieces and nephews, 46 grand nieces/nephews and nine great grand nieces and nephews.
Her funeral was a Requiem Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael McKenna on 1 October at St Joseph’s Chapel at St Joseph Heritage Centre in Perthville, and interment in the adjacent Sisters of St Joseph Cemetery.
This dedication to Sr Farrell written by her brother-in-law, Kevin Vidler, was published in the Bathurst Western Advocate, to read it click on the link:
St Catherine’s Aged Care Home, located in Bathurst, caters for 130 residents. There are a wide range of outings and activities to choose from, including arts and crafts, exercise programs, cultural and spiritual activities and social outings and activities. The Home features an onsite café, hair salon, billiard room, Wellness centre and onsite Chapel with regular services.
For more information on St Catherine’s Aged Care call 1800 225 474 or visit the St Catherine's Page on our website.
October 20, 2021
Residential Aged Care, CHL
Thank you Renier for your inspiration and vision! Currently Area Chef Manager at St Catherine's, Renier features in an article about how organisational changes can produce unexpected, positive experiences and foster meaningful engagement.
October 12, 2021
Residential Aged Care, CHL, Forbes Orange Bathurst
Meet John Moran, Diversional Therapist at St Catherine’s Residential Aged Care in Bathurst. John’s role involves contributing to a ‘lifestyle of fun and experience’ for the residents. He certainly achieves this in his work, taking advantage of his skills and experience as a talented musician, artist and performer.
