Shirley Rae Farel
Graveside services for Shirley Rae Farel, 85, Udall, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Baptist Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Farel passed away at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Baxter Regional Medical Center.
She was born July 13, 1935 in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Max and Dora (Meyer) Tessman. She married Norman Farel on August 29, 1953 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere, Illinois. Shirley had an incredible servant heart and work ethic and was always willing to help anyone who asked her. She kept a meticulous home, and the day before she passed jokingly said she was never going to clean another bathroom or wash another wall again! She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, baking, and gardening, and her family will miss her incredible laughter, her Red Cake, and Christmas cookies. “Happy Noodles” will be said in her memory at family gatherings forever. Shirley loved to travel, enjoying many trips to spend time with her family. Playing Canasta and Euchre and spending time with her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her so much joy. Many friends considered her an honorary grandmother. Shirley helped care for many of her grandchildren, often after a full day at work, and said she just loved being with her babies. She had many pets throughout her life, but especially loved her sweet Daisy, who she loved and cared for over fourteen years. Shirley was a list maker, and if something was important, she wrote it down and saved many notes. Her Bible had many underlined passages, including Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” She worked hard, and her last day of life she said, “I really should get up and clean this room, but I’m going to let someone else do it.” In her final hours she said she really prayed God would bring her home. She recited the Lord’s Prayer multiple times as it gave her peace and rest. Minutes before passing she pulled her daughter close and kissed her on the nose, and taking her last breath, she raised her hand toward Heaven. Total peace washed over her. Shirley retired from Belvedere Company where she worked in the upholstery department, and then in the customer service department. She was an Awana leader at Calvary Baptist Church in Belvidere, Illinois and was a Sunday School assistant. She was a member of the Belvedere Company Bowling league, and Belvidere Women’s After 5 Club. Later in life, she enjoyed weekly Bingo excursions with her friends. Pre-Covid she regularly attended Missionary Baptist Church.
Shirley is survived by her husband Norman; son Norman Jr. “Tink” and his wife, Cheryl Farel; daughters, Sharon Thomas and husband, Fred and Pamela Johnson and husband, Tom, all of Belvidere, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Xandra Farel, Sara Wollin, Matthew Wollin, Talie Johnson, Nick (Katrina) Brown, Steven K.C. (Kristine) Farel, Ashley Farel, and Christopher (Katie) Thomas; niece, Candy Farel Mendoza; eleven great-grandchildren Braden Ettner, Emma, Hunter, Regan and Max Wollin, Alayna Farel, Jasmin Farel, Janell, Teaghan, Zach and Karlene Brown; two sisters-in-law, Linda Hendrickson and husband, James and Ruby Cheek; honorary son, Jerry Richardson; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved deeply.
She is preceded in death by her parents, one son, Steven Farel and his wife Trina, three grandsons, Cory Joe Farel, Shane Farel and Luke Wollin, nine siblings, Evelyn (Harrison) Odemoe, Harold (Lotis) Tessman, Hazel (George) Busse, Lucille Tessman, Doris (Bill) Beardsley, Mary (Larry) VanSoest, Wilber “Bill”(Margaret) Tessman, Robert (Bernice) Tessman, and Lois (Richard) Phillips, and several nieces and nephews.
