Alice Farrell

December 21, 1934 - December 26, 2021

Alice Farrell, 87, passed away on December 26, 2021 in Derwood, Maryland. Alice was born in Amsterdam, NY in 1934 to William and Mildred McVeigh. She graduated from St. Mary’s Institute in 1952 and received her R.N. degree from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in 1955. She married James (Jim) Farrell in 1957 at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam, and shortly after moved to Utica where they raised their four children. In 2014, Alice moved to East Syracuse. Alice worked as a nurse at Faxton Hospital and was an Occupational Health Nurse at GE for 17 years. She was certified in Pastoral Care in the Formation for Ministry Program for the Diocese of Syracuse in 1990. Under the spiritual guidance of friend Sister Lois Paciello, CSJ, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Utica, she touched many lives as the facilitator for the Bereavement Ministry, Mary Star of Hope Group and Intercessory Prayer Group. She was also a Eucharistic Minister at Lourdes. Additionally, Alice was a member of the Women’s Scripture Group at Immaculate Conception Church (Fayetteville, NY) and participated in the Erie Village Book Club. She was extremely kind-hearted, an avid reader, and enjoyed challenging herself daily with the New York Times Spelling Bee and crossword puzzles. Alice was the happiest spending time with her family and sharing laughs with friends, including her dear friends Sister Lois and Joyce Cabral. She loved traveling with Jim to visit family in Cape Cod, Florida and Scotland. She is survived by her four loving children, Kathy Schenck (David) of Washington, DC; Mark Farrell (Wendy Singer) of Rochester, NY; Nancy Sullivan (Michael) of Hatfield, PA; and Christopher Farrell (Lori) of East Syracuse, NY; and her daughter-in-law Stacey Farrell of Utica, NY. Alice treasured her ten grandchildren: Michael and Robert Schenck (Olivia); Jason Farrell, Maureen Northrup (Richard), Rachel Waskiewicz (Todd), and Kristin Mergenthaler (Justin); Eli, Kate, and Kelly Sullivan; and Andrew Farrell (Ashley); as well as her seven great-grandchildren: George and Marion Northrup; Will, Thomas, and Robert Mergenthaler; and Bennett and Oliver Schenck. Also surviving are cousins, nieces and nephews in the U.S., Scotland, and England. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Mildred; her beloved husband Jim; her daughter-in-law Bertha Farrell; and her brother and sister-in-law Robert and Catherine McVeigh. Alice was extremely grateful for the love and kindness shown by her daughter Kathy and son-in-law David Schenck this past year. In addition, she appreciated the encouragement and support by family and friends, and the wonderful staff at Sibley Hospital (Washington, DC) and Casey House Hospice (Rockville, MD). Due to Covid, there will be no calling hours and a Memorial Mass will be held at a later date. At the family’s request, please omit floral offerings. Remembrances in Alice’s name may be made to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica, Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).