Obituary of Diane Marie Farrell

Diane Marie Farrell passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family, on June 16, 2021. She was 72 years old.

Diane was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey, to parents William, a Merchant Marine Academy Graduate and World War II veteran, and Bernice (Duffy) Turnier. She grew up primarily in the towns of Westwood and Mahwah in Bergen County. A graduate of Benedictine Academy in Paterson, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Caldwell College in 1971.  

Diane had a long and diverse professional career, beginning in the field of human resources. She initially worked for the State of New Jersey, recruiting talented professionals to choose a career in state government. She subsequently moved to the private sector to UPS. One day in 1982, she interviewed a young man seeking a position at UPS. That young man, John J. Farrell, Jr., got the job and eventually became her husband. The two married on May 4, 1985 and were married for 37 years. They had one son, Ryan Michael Farrell in 1989 and moved to Gladstone in 1991, where they resided for the next thirty years.

A desire to help others led Diane to pursue a mid-career change, attending nursing school during the day while working at UPS at night. She received her nursing degree from Bergen Community College in 1984 and became a Registered Nurse the same year. She subsequently worked at several hospitals, including West Hudson Hospital, Kearny & Alexian Brothers Hospital, Elizabeth, where she served as a Human Resources manager, responsible for recruiting nurses from overseas to work at the hospital. Most recently, Diane worked for the Matheny School and Hospital in Peapack as a nurse until 2000, where she was loved by staff and patients alike for her caring nature.

Diane loved spending time with her beloved family and vacationing on Cape Cod. In recent years, she loved spending time with her only grandchild, John Buckley Farrell, born in 2019. Her Husband, Son, and Grandson survive her and will miss her every day. The family wishes to extend their eternal gratitude and thanks to the numerous doctors, nurses, and health care professionals who cared for Diane in the last few weeks and months.  

Visitation will be held Saturday, June 19, from 9:30 to 11 AM at Bailey Funeral Home, 176 Main St, Peapack NJ 07977. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated following the visitation at 11:30 at St. Elizabeth Church, 34 Peapack Rd, Far Hills, NJ 07931. In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane’s memory may be made to Matheny Medical & Educational Center, 65 Highland Avenue, P.O. Box 339 Peapack, NJ 07977.