Obituary of Dorothy E. Farley

The family of Dorothy Estelle (Quigley) Farley sadly announces the passing of a wonderful mother, loving grandmother and great-grandmother and thoughtful friend on March 17, at the age of 97. Prior to her move from Jamesport, Long Island to Chester Village West in Chester, Connecticut she resided in Mattituck, Long Island where "Tallwood", the family home on Peconic Bay had been the happy gathering place for her large family and extended group of friends. Born on Vermillia Avenue, New York City on March 25, 1917 the only child of John Herbert and Estelle (Kennedy) Quigley, Dorothy grew up in both New Haven, Connecticut and Queens Village, New York. It was while working at the Manhattan law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hope and Webb that she met attorney Thomas Phillip Farley, the love of her life. Married on August 2, 1941 they moved to their new home in Hempstead, L.I.where they lovingly raised 6 children and became actively involved in Catholic Charities, Mercy Hospital, Knights of Columbus and local and national politics. While raising her large family Dorothy still managed to do volunteer work and support her husband as he advanced from successful attorney to the New York State Supreme Court where he was Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division before retiring in 1986. She had the remarkable ability to juggle many balls at once long before the expression "multi-tasking" came into being. Dorothy organized judicial events and trips, traveled joyfully throughout Europe and Scandinavia, was an avid reader and talented knitter and somehow managed to magically produce large sit down dinners while remaining totally unflappable. In addition to her beloved husband Tom who died in 2005 at the age of 96, Dorothy was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Patricia who succumbed to polio at the tender age of 19 months and daughter-in-law Linda Knapp Farley (Mark) who died in 1996. She leaves behind her children Barbara (Bob) White of Richmond, Virginia, Thomas P. Jr. of Goldendale, Washington, Karen (Doug) Van Dyke of East Haddam, Connecticut, Mark of New Bern, North Carolina, Martha (Bob) Nolan of Westborough, Massachusetts, and Amy of Bethel, Connecticut. Dorothy is also survived by her loving grandchildren Brian (Fina) Kevin (Mistie) Sean (Kate) Sage (Dan) Ryan (Carlyne) Megan, Kaitlin, Jesse (Karen) Erin (Daniel) Conor, Ian and Alex as well as her great-grandchildren Norita, Dante, Tyler, Logan, Alana, Colton, Luke, Harrison, Parker, Grace, Natalie, Morgan, Riley, Grady, Bridget and Ronan. Dorothy also leaves behind her dear daughter-in-law Joan Farley of Melbourne, Florida as well as many treasured nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to thank all the remarkable people at Vitas Hospice Care for their kindness and exceptional care. Visitation for Dorothy will be on Friday from 9:30- 10:30am at Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St. Centerbrook.Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Church, Middlesex Turnpike in Chester at 11am.Interment will be Saturday at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, NY at 11am. Gifts in Dorothy's memory may be made to either: Chester Village West Staff Gift Fund or Scholarship Foundation Fund, Estuary Council of Seniors (Old Saybrook) or to St. Joseph's Church in Chester, CT. To share a memory of Dorothy or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.