Sister Lillian Marie Farrell, IHM

Sister Lillian Marie Farrell, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

Born on December 17, 1930, in Binghamton, NY, and given the name Marian, Sister Lillian was the daughter of the late John and Lillian Dunn Farrell. She entered the IHM Congregation on December 7, 1954, made temporary profession of her vows on August 3, 1957, and final profession of her vows on August 3, 1963.  Sister Lillian Marie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/social studies, a Master of Science degree in English, and a Master of Arts degree in psychology, all from Marywood College, Scranton, PA.

Sister Lillian Marie served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Joseph Elementary School in Danville, PA, from 1957 to 1958; St. Patrick Elementary School in Olyphant, PA, from 1958 to 1959; Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, from 1959 to 1964; Holy Trinity Elementary School in Poughkeepsie, NY, from 1964 to 1966; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY, from 1966 to 1967; St. Raymond Elementary School in East Rockaway, NY, from 1967 to 1972; St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, DE, from 1972 to 1977; Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, PA, from 1977 to 1980; and Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, PA, from 1982 to 1986.

Sister Lillian Marie served as principal at Sacred Heart High School in Carbondale, PA, from 1980 to 1982.

Sister also served as an instructor at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, from 1986 to 1988; as a parish minister at St. Ambrose Parish in Endicott, NY, from 1988 to 2005; a scripture study leader at the IHM Center in Scranton, PA in 2005; a proofreader for doctoral dissertations at Marywood University in Scranton, PA, from 2005 to 2012; and as an instructor at the Educational Enrichment Institute in Scranton, PA, from 2006 to 2012.

From 2012 until the time of her death, Sister Lillian Marie was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, John J. and William, and a sister, Mary Ruth.  Sister Lillian is survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Wednesday, August 14, at 11:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Wednesday, August 14, between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass on Wednesday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Prayer of Remembrance and Funeral

Reflection

Given by Sister Marie Lourdes Vanston, IHM

Today we honor our Sister, Lillian, who journeyed with us in community and ministry. Thinking of Lil today, I recalled reading these words written by an unknown author: “Loving God, You have taken me like clay and formed my life.  You have given shape to my hopes and dreams.  I praise You for having loved me enough to create life through and for me.  I ask that You use me to bring new life and joy to all your people.

After a second reading, I thought it truly reflected Lil’s utter trust in the God she loved so unconditionally.  The words also offer consolation to us who contemplate anew the mystery of a Divine Love who called Lil home last week with an urgency that our human hearts struggle to understand but for which our hearts of faith truly yearn.

We all know Lil’s love of poetry, her determination, humor, and love of a good party. She had an abiding love for her brothers, especially her brother, John, as well as for our congregation and those with and to whom she ministered.

She moved us with her persistence and insights into reading and reciting classic English poetry.  Do you remember The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson? “I fled him down the nights and down the days; I fled him down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind.”  Despite any upheaval in the background, Lil remained the perfect lady!  These valuable memories remain in our own minds and hearts.

Today then we give gratitude for the life of Lil and the countless ways she shared life with us as sister, friend, teacher, pastoral minister, and so much more during her 67 years of religious life.

We remember today, Lil’s parents, John and Lillian Dunn Farrell, her brothers, John J. and William, her sister, Mary Ruth and all her extended family. We ask God to fill with hope and peace her IHM Sisters, especially those who lived in her Household 1C here at Our Lady of Peace, the members of her band, the staff and administrators of OLP, the nurses and aids on first floor and her hospice caregivers.

Certainly, Lil embodied a deep love of prayer and through it, served God and our world.  May her example continue to inspire, energize and guide us always, and leave a smile in our hearts. Amen.