Marcille M. Farr OBITUARY

Marcille M. Farr OBITUARY

“Marcille” died a few days ago.

“Marcille” is Marcille M. Farr of West Hartford and Bloomfield,

Connecticut

Marcille M. Farr passed away at Caleb Hitchcock Health Center in Bloomfield, Connecticut, on January 2, 2025, a week after celebrating her 74th wedding anniversary. She had lived during ninety-four calendar years at the time of her death. She is survived by her husband, Richard C. Farr, of West Hartford; Children — Denise F. Isaac and her husband, Andrew L. Isaac; Richardson Farr; David R. Farr and his longtime partner, Monica Bowman.

She was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, on September 10, 1931, to Lloyd R. Mullikin and Mildred (Hodges) Mullikin. Although an only child, she enjoyed a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Mrs. Farr graduated from Forrest City High School in 1949, where she was a lead majorette and was chosen as Maid of Honor of the annual Arkansas Peach Festival for three years. She began her college undergraduate studies at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where she was also employed while a student.

She and Mr. Farr were married on Christmas Day in 1950.

After Mr. Farr’s graduation from Hendrix in 1952, they moved to Dallas, Texas, where Mrs. Farr worked for the Mobil Oil Corporation. Following a move in 1953 to Sacramento, California, she continued her work for Mobil Oil until her early retirement from that company. She soon excelled in her role as what she termed “a corporate wife,” and the family moved often, coming to the Hartford area in 1972. She resumed her academic studies in 1976 while raising two young boys. She graduated in 1979 from the Saint Joseph College School of Nursing in West Hartford with an honors Bachelor of Science degree. She recalled loving her studies and engaging with the nuns who instructed there, as well as her training at St. Francis Hospital. She became licensed as a Registered Nurse.

She never stopped wanting to learn. In later life, as a resident of The McAuley in West Hartford, she was continually active in that community and also took the opportunity to take many classes that were offered next door at the University of Saint Joseph. She put her nursing education, experience, and caring to practical use by volunteering, in particular at Jefferson House in Newington, Connecticut, for more than 20 years and by accumulating over 4,500 hours as a volunteer at the Hartford Hospital.

Marcille was enthusiastic about several sports, both as a participant and as a fan. She especially loved racquet sports – tennis, platform tennis, badminton, and table tennis. She maintained a box at each stadium for the US Open Tennis Championships for over 60 years. She became friends with several internationally ranked Australian players. Having been given the boxes as a birthday present, she called it “the best present I ever received.”

She was an owner of thoroughbred race horses, including Grade I Stakes winners and Breeders Cup Champions. When interviewed in the Winner’s Circles by TV announcers, her comments were fresh, knowledgeable, and responsive to the questions posed by the announcers – a rarity with most such interviews. She later noted how much she enjoyed being associated with Julie Krone, a pioneer female jockey. Ms. Krone was the principal rider of Mrs. Farr’s many champions.

A favorite pastime for Marcille was Mah Jong at the Hartford Golf Club — where she was a member dating back to 1974 – and the Town and County Club of Hartford. She was a player and an instructor and was instrumental in founding a Mah Jong group in the late 1970s. This group still continues at the Hartford Golf Club.

Mah Jong was only one of several activities and adventures that she shared with her sister-in-law, Geraldine “Jerry” Richardson, who moved from Arkansas to West Hartford in 1983. Having no blood-relative siblings, Marcille considered Jerry to be a surrogate sister.

Marcille and her husband traveled extensively throughout this country and internationally, often including Jerry and other friends. Recently, she made a list of homes that she and her husband owned and had made comfortable residences. She stopped counting when that list numbered thirty-four homes in the United States and Paris, France.

Marcille had a strong Christian faith, which she practiced in everyday life. She always had an open door … with an open heart and open ear… for her friends and extended family. She was a second Mom to many of her children’s friends. She was a member of churches in four Protestant denominations — Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Congregational — where she held leadership positions, most recently at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford until her health began to fail late in life.

Marcille’s family members are deeply indebted to her many, many friends; to the clergy, staff, and Membership of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church; to many doctors, nurses, and staff members of hospitals, assisted living and nursing facilities; and to her long- time personal physician, Dr. Eric Rosenberg of Pro Health Physicians. All these individuals and institutions made her final years extremely comfortable and meaningful to her.

Final arrangements have been entrusted to Sheehan – Hilborn — Breen Funeral Home of West Hartford. No calling hours are planned.

A memorial service to celebrate Marcille’s life has been scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue in Hartford, with a reception to follow at the Fellowship Hall of the church.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at

https://www.sheehanhilbornbreen.com.

For any who may wish to contribute to Marcille’s memory, the following are suggested: The University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT, 06117, to benefit the Haloburdo Knowlton Scholarship for Nursing, and the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.