Anne Farrar

1932 - 2021

Farrar, Anne
December 23, 1932 - December 7, 2021

Beloved Jeffco teacher, Anne Farrar, passed away on December 7, 2021. Anne was born in Chicago, IL on December 23, 1932. Daughter of recent immigrants, Miro and Katherine Salva, from Slovakia, she grew up speaking Slovak and Polish. She graduated from Steinmetz High School, then attended Wright College. After moving to Denver with her parents and sister in 1951, Anne enrolled at University of Denver. Some weekends she went square dancing at the downtown YMCA where she met a tall, handsome engineer, Russ Farrar. They married on March 21, 1953. In the fall, she did her student teaching at Barnum Elementary, then graduated in December, with a major in sociology and minor in education. Daughter Janet was born in May 1954, and son Russell in May 1955. In 1958 Anne finished the year for a teacher at Cloverdale Cottage school. She went full time in 1959 and in 1960 moved to the brand new Lasley Elementary, teaching kindergarten until she retired in 1988. After 24 years of teaching, she received her Master's degree in Education from Lesley University. After retirement, she became a sought after substitute teacher for the next 20 years. Anne was passionate about her days being with the kindergarten children. She said she grew and learned so much from those little ones. Her classroom was always inviting, with colorful displays and furry pets. Anne made the children feel at home and she encouraged the children to treat each other with respect and kindness. She also mentored many student teachers. Anne and Russ enjoyed traveling. When Janet and Russell were young, the family traveled to the western national parks, the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle and the 1965 World's Fair in New York. Later they explored all seven continents and about 100 countries, including many cruises. Anne still has relatives in Slovakia and Czech Republic where she could speak the language and interact with the locals, bringing medical supplies and books, especially during the Communist years. At home, they were host/contact family for foreign students at School of Mines, Fulbright students visiting Denver, the Slovak fencing team, AFS students and a Czech youth choir. Anne and Russ were members of Jefferson Unitarian Church for over 50 years. Anne was the founding member of the Slovak Society of Colorado and a 68 year member of the Mile Hi Czech/Slovak Lodge. She enjoyed her Red Hat groups, Widows or Widowers group, Jeffco Retired School Employees, Lasley Elementary Lunch Bunch, American Association of University Women, and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Anne and Russ enjoyed plays and cultural events at the Lakewood Cultural Center, The Arvada Center and the DCPA.
Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Miro and Katherine Salva, her husband, Russ Farrar, her son Russell, sister Olga Melcher, nephew Keith Melcher. She is survived by her daughter Janet Farrar, granddaughter Anna Farrar-Helm, nieces Stacy Baker and Karen Mormino.
Service on January 29, 2022, 2pm at Jefferson Unitarian Church, 14350 W. 32nd Ave, Golden, CO.
Donations can be made to the Action Center, Lakewood, CO