Carole Elizabeth Farrell

Farrell, Carole Elizabeth Always caring, ever provocative, and loyal to a fault, the outrageously funny Carole Elizabeth Farrell left her indelible mark on everything she did throughout her life. A devout but doggedly progressive Catholic, she faithfully embodied her personal creeds, "Judge not, lest you be judged," and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Quick-witted, compassionate, and an Irish poet at heart, Carole leaves behind a trove of unforgettable memories and one-of-a-kind stories of a well-lived life for her family and friends to cherish. A quiet activist early on in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, Carole advocated for greater awareness, education and research to help those suffering from the disease. With the entrepreneurial and visionary spirit of her father, Jack, in tandem with the creative and whimsical touch of her mother, Lil, she became an innovative businesswoman. Her greatest legacy will be, however, the awareness that she has raised for those, like herself, suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorders and mental illness in general. Born Carole Elizabeth Catalane on April 26, 1945 in Montclair, New Jersey to Lilian Maher and John Francis Catalane, Carole grew up on the East side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She exhibited a gift for music as a young girl and delighted many with her prowess at the piano. A talented, albeit reluctant, cook Carole was a "foodie" before they coined the phrase, though she remained steadfast to her true culinary lifelong loves -- orange candy circus peanuts, black licorice nibs, and Van's cream-filled bon bons. Christmas was her favorite time of year, so it is only fitting she left this world for the celestial next to her much-loved holiday tune, Perry Como's "White Christmas." Carole will be home for Christmas, if only in our dreams. Carole passed away in hospice care at St. Mary's Columbia Hospital on December 19, 2013. Carole is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 45 years, William John Farrell, her two adoring children John William Farrell (Molly) and Shannon Bell Farrell (Leandro), her two beloved grandchildren Will Gleason Farrell and Addison Elizabeth Farrell, and her four sisters, Mary Grace Catalane, Catherine Bury (Chris), Nancy Catalane, and Anne Catalane. In lieu of flowers, please enjoy a great meal and think of Carole. Private Family Services will be held at a later date.