Thomas W. Farrell Jr.

Thomas W. Farrell, Jr., of West Hartford, died Tuesday, May 1st at the age of 77 after a 50 year daily struggle against Multiple Sclerosis. Tom was the son of the late Thomas W. and Eleanor (Wehrly) Farrell and brother of Sharon Raeder. He attended three different high schools in different states in four years and joined the United States Navy after graduation. He trained for submarine service but did his tour of duty on the USS Severn as a radarman in the Mediterranean. Tom attended Boston University first at CBS where he was President of his class and graduated from the School of Communications. He was a Resident Assistant at the notorious Myles Standish Hall. He was a President's Host and had the honor of driving Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for the library dedication. After graduation, he worked for GE in advertising before joining Merck Sharp and Dohme as a "detail man" for Pharmaceuticals. When Tom was no longer able to work for Merck, he volunteered as a daily friendly caller for the Town that Cares and loved checking in and talking to "Perk" every day for years. He also loved his volunteer work at the American Red Cross working with military families and his time spent with Johanna Murphy. In 1967, Tom married Edna Foster and moved to Connecticut. After buying a starter house he declared there'd be no more moving and 50 years later Tom died in his starter house. Tom is survived by his wife Edna, his special cousin Eleanor Blake of Hartford and Terrell Sewell of Virginia and several Farrell cousins. Edie expresses thanks to those who gave Tom loving care and respect; Dr. Margaret Rathier and Kathleen O'Neill of the VA HBHC, Cathy and Michelle of VITAS Hospice, Tulia Pereira, his joyful "pancake flipper and honorary daughter", Linda Wright, who has brought Edie food for her body and soul and most especially, Sally Williams who was love and life itself to us for 20 years as VNA's Friendly Visitor and who left us in March to see if it was okay for Tom to leave this earth and find peace. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday (May 9) at 10:00am in the Chapel of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave., Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Town that Cares, c/o West Hartford Social Services, 50 South Main St., Room 306, West Hartford, CT 06107 or to the American Red Cross, 209 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06032. Arrangements are being handled by The Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc., www.ahernfuneralhome.com.