Joanne Farry Obituary

Joanne A. Farry passed December 17, 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Joanne was born on April 3, 1926 in Lakeland, Florida.

In 1943 Joanne was going to school, working for a doctor and on her way to a career in medicine when she met Ed Farry from Newark, New Jersey. Ed was a pilot in the Army Air Force stationed nearby in Avon Park, Florida. During the war Joanne's parents, John and Stella Johnson, invited the airmen and soldiers - far from home and stationed in the local area - over for Sunday dinner. Those Sunday dinners changed Joanne's and Ed's lives forever: they were married on September 28, 1944.

Joanne is survived by son Edward (Jan) Farry, Jr., of Colorado Springs, daughter Anna Margaret (Stan) Sulewski, of York, Pennsylvania, grandchildren Christopher (Andrea) Farry, Megan Sulewski, Nicholas Sulewski, and Caitlin Farry, great grand children Hayden Farry and Macie Farry and numerous nieces and nephews. Husband Ed preceded Joanne in death.

Joanne, known as Jody to all her family and friends, was the center of her family's life and a wonderful friend to all she knew. For her friends and for those she knew who were excluded, lonely or forgotten, Jody would organize parties, dinners and lunches. She welcomed all and made everyone feel as the center of her attention. Jody's cooking was renowned and she delighted in entertaining her friends and family with her sumptuous meals. Jody was the glue that bound her family together. Although her family is scattered from Pennsylvania, Illinois and Colorado Jody would arrange gatherings throughout the year bringing us all together. Christmas in July was a favorite. Jody and Ed traveled the world and lived in Michigan, Germany and Guam before retiring in Colorado Springs.

Jody loved bridge because of its companionship and its required mental acuity. When she "doubled" she meant it.

Jody lived her faith. Without show, her routine was to buy new infants' and children clothing and then donate it to the church or Marion House. She never shopped without buying two bags of groceries for the church and, more importantly, she was a friend who accepted and welcomed everyone.

Her family has been forever blessed by those Sunday dinners. Our tears do not begin to express the enormity of our loss.

A Mass in celebration of Jody's life will be held on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2318 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907. A rosary will be offered at 1:30 p.m. prior to the Mass.

A reception will be held at the Garden of the Gods Club, 3320 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904 following Mass.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution to Catholic Charities or maybe, with Jody in mind, a donation of new children and infants' clothes to the charity of your choice.