Marion O'Farrell

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Marion Hannah O’Farrell (nee McGinnis), age 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 6th in her home on Crane Ave. The beloved matriarch of a large family, she is survived by her eight children (Patricia (Tony), Bill (Darlene), Bernie (Dan), Deborah, Colleen (Frank), Marion (Nick), Winna (Glenn), Kelly (Joe)); her nineteen grandchildren (Tracy (Adrian), Christine (Jeremy), Sandra (Nick), Heather (Chris), Frank (Monika), Lindsay (Damian), Diane, Michael, Sean (Leila), Michelle (Ash), Jimmy V., Jimmy O. (Sorida), Mark (Jennifer), Ian (Carla), Melanie (Mike), Christopher, Vanessa, Alissa (Ryan), and Dana (Neil)); her eleven great grandchildren (Logan, Jake, Kate, Phoenix, Sebastian, Sydney, Mathew, Wesley, Charlotte, Lily, and the late Liam), and her many nieces and nephews. Marion was predeceased by her loving husband James. She is also survived by her sister and best friend Helen Kirk. She died in the home she has lived in and lovingly kept since 1955.

Marion was born on February 23rd, 1926, on a family farm in Elmvale, Ontario, where she grew up one of eight children to Anne and George McGinnis. At 18, she moved to Toronto in search of opportunity with her sister Helen, and the two found work as part of the war effort. In her first job she manufactured nose cones for artillery shells at a farm implement factory that had been converted to making munitions. She later worked at the factory of Parker Pen, where in lieu of making pens, she inspected gun barrels on an assembly line. Here she would meet Jim O’Farrell, a young foreman, whom she would marry shortly after the war and spend her life with. The two were together until Jim’s passing in 2011.

Over the next several decades, Marion raised her children while running the administrative side of the family roofing business. She was active in her community, an expert gardener, fabulous baker, the host of many festive meals, and an outgoing and well-liked neighbour and friend. A devout Catholic, she was a founding parishioner of All Saints Church in Etobicoke. She enjoyed summers at the cottage where, in whispered voices, locals still speak about the home run she hit into the lake.

Marion enjoyed good health throughout an active retirement during which she and Jim travelled extensively. She also entertained and delighted her many grandchildren. She was smart, observant, warm, witty, and quick to laugh. We love her. We are grateful she was ours. It’s the end of an era, and what an era it was.

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