Sister Carolyn Farrell, BVM (1934-2020)

FARRELL, ZELLER, WHITMAN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 6/16/2020 at 21:09:18

Sister Carolyn Farrell, BVM, (Lester), 85, of 1150 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa, died Sunday, June 14, 2020 at Marian Hall.

Sharing of Memories via Zoom will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. A virtual visitation will be from 10:30-10:45 a.m. and followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery. All events may be viewed through video stream at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bvmsisters.

Sister Carolyn was an elementary teacher at St. Paul School in Davenport, Iowa, and St. Tarcissus School in Chicago and principal at St. Patrick’s School in Dubuque. During her tenure as Director of Continuing Education at Clarke University, she served on the Dubuque City Council and as Mayor. Carolyn also served two terms as regional representative in the BVM Congregation and as founding Director of the BVM Women’s Office. In Chicago, Carolyn was interim President of Mundelein College, Associate Vice President at Loyola University, and founding Director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership. She returned to Dubuque to become the Director of the Roberta Kuhn Center and served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Clarke University. During her retirement, Carolyn continued to advocate for women and justice for all people.

She was born on November 2, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, to James L. and Catherine Carroll Farrell. She entered the BVM congregation September 8, 1953, from Holy Trinity Parish, Des Moines. She professed first vows on March 19, 1956, and final vows on July 16, 1961.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Freddy and John. She is survived by siblings Dolores (George) Zeller, James (Caroline) Farrell, Margaret (Ed) Whitman; and Thomas (Sandy) Farrell; nieces, nephews and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 66 years.

Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.

Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F Kennedy Rd., Dubuque IA 52002is in charge of arrangements.