James Joseph Farren Jr.

Our dear, sweet dad passed away at home with his daughters by his side on July 5, 2022, in Winter Park, Florida.

He told me he was not afraid.

James Joseph Farren, Jr. was born in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania on June 23, 1944, to Vera Goeringer Farren and James Joseph Farren, Sr. He was the best dad and grandfather in the world to William Lee III., James Farren Lee, Anderson Lee, and Bennett Lee!

I never defined or described my dad by a profession, but he began his career as a stockbroker and later reinvented himself as a kitchen designer.

Our dad was famous for his beautiful thick silver hair, distinct voice, and sarcastic wit! He never yelled at us, but he somehow got the lesson through! One of his ways of letting us know he meant business was when he'd hold up his fist in Jackie Gleason's The Honey Mooners fashion and say, "You're going to the moon, Alice!"

ღ I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T LIKE YOU. I'M JUST SAYING, I'D UNPLUG YOUR LIFE SUPPORT TO MAKE A POT OF COFFEE.

One of the great loves of our dad's life was Europe. His mom, our grandmother Mimi, moved them to Paris when he was just 15. They travelled all over the continent giving our dad some of the most memorable and loved experiences of his life.

Our dad was imperfect and made mistakes as we all do but he was amazing at letting things go. He didn't hold grudges and it was genuine. He didn't have the need to belabor the negative. Our arguments were often initiated by me because I'd get my knickers in a twist! Yet, he was calm, and that calmness was beautiful. I would apologize after my "passionate expression" and he would say, "Thank you for your apology, don't do it again, now let's move on. Now go fix me a cocktail!"

ღ "HERE'S TO CHEATIN', STEALIN', FIGHTIN', AND DRINKING'..."

IF YOU CHEAT, MAY IT BE DEATH

IF YOU STEAL, MAY IT BE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN'S HEART

IF YOU FIGHT, MAY IT BE FOR A BROTHER

IF YOU DRINK, MAY IT BE WITH ME

1-15-17

My dad was an amazing girls' dad. He provided us with a safe and nurturing home and made us the prettiest bedrooms ever! He loved cooking Sunday dinners. He was great with homework and would drive me to (dance) rehearsals while sitting in the car for hours. He was probably the most patient human being I have ever known. Thank you, Dad.

Our dad was my nephew Anderson's best friend. Here are a few memories Anderson would like to share about his grandpa:

ღ Grandpa used to take me on the SunRail and take Anderson to the concert

ღ Grandpa and I used to play the lottery

ღ I loved his breakfast

ღ I loved sleeping at Grandpa's house

ღ He helped fix my bike

ღ He used to help Anderson when he was hurt

ღ Grandpa and Anderson used to watch the rockets go off

ღ Grandpa used to take us to school

ღ Anderson used to go to Grandpa's house every day

ღ Grandpa and Anderson used to go on the Vespa

ღ Grandpa and Anderson used to do the dishes together

ღ Grandpa loved to read a lot. He liked James Patterson and mystery books

ღ Grandpa moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania when he was a kid

My dad loved Melissa, myself, and his grandchildren unconditionally. Before, and after he passed, I discovered several writings of his which I have threaded in this tribute to him. This one is an expression about my autistic nephew, my godson, James.

ღ WHY WOULD SO MANY THINGS CONSPIRE TO SAVE ONE LITTLE BOY'S LIFE? BUT WHAT IF IT WASN'T JUST JAMES. WHAT IF HE IS NO MORE OR LESS SPECIAL THAN ANY OF US? WHAT IF WE ARE ALL UNIQUE AND THE UNIVERESE LOVES US ALL EQUALLY? SO MUCH SO THAT IT BENDS OVER BACKWARDS ACROSS THE CENTURIES FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. AND SOMETIMES, WE ARE JUST LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE IT.

NO LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER AND NOTHING HAS BEEN WITHOUT PURPOSE. NOTHING.

WHAT IF WE ARE ALL PART OF A GREAT PATTERN THAT WE MAY SOME DAY UNDERSTAND?

AND ONE DAY, WHEN WE ALONE HAVE DONE WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING WE GET TO RISE UP AND REUNITE WITH THOSE WE HAVE LOVED THE MOST... FOREVER EMBRACED

WHAT IF WE GET TO BECOME STARS?

JJF

11-13-14

Here are a few more that I would like to include. Just because I love him, and I think they are so cool!

ღ "NOTHING IN LIFE WILL CALL UPON US TO BE MORE COURAGEOUS THAN FACING THE FACT THAT IT ENDS. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HEARTBREAK IS WISDOM."

1-26-15

ღ PERFECTION IS NOT A POLISHED THING. IT IS OFTEN SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT IS SINCERELY MEANT. PERFECTION IS A JOB COMPLETE. PRAISE GIVEN, PRAYER HEARD. IT CAN BE KINDNESS SHOWN. THANKS OFFERED UP.

PERFECTION IS WHAT WE DISCOVER IN EACH OTHER. WHAT WE SEE REFLECTED BACK.

AND IF PERFECTION ELUDES US, THAT DOESN'T MATTER. FOR WHAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE MOMENT IS ENOUGH.

5/1/16

ღ THE DEPARTURE OF LIFE ECLIPSES EVERYTHING. WHEN A DEATH IS GOOD, THE ROOM IS FILLED WITH PEACE, AND ALL OF THE PAIN THAT WENT BEFORE IT IS FORGOTTEN. WHERE THERE WAS MYSTERY, THERE IS KNOWLEDGE, WHERE THERE WAS FEAR, THERE IS LOVE.

ღ THE WORLD IS FULL OF LOVE THAT GOES UNSPOKEN. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS FELT LESS DEEPLY OR THAT SEPARATION LEAVES A CLEANER WOUND. ITS BEAUTY AND ITS PAIN ARE IN ITS SILENCE.

4-26-16

Out of all of writings, he titled this one "Eulogy":

ღ PLAY, SMILE. THINK OF ME, PRAY FOR ME.

LET MY NAME BE SPOKEN WITHOUT EFFORT, WITHOUT THE GHOST OF A SHADOW UPON IT.

LIFE MEANS ALL THAT IT EVER MEANT. IT IS THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS. THERE IS UNBROKEN CONTINUITY. WHY SHOULD I BE OUT OF MIND WHEN I AM OUT OF SIGHT? I AM BUT WAITING FOR YOU, FOR AN INTERVAL, SOMEWHERE VERY NEAR, JUST AROUND THE CORNER. ALL IS WELL.

OCTOBER 15, 2014

We love and miss you so much, Dad. You've gone to the moon.