CRAIG FUNERAL HOME - On Line Obits
Flagler Beach, Florida
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

With love, admiration and sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, Margurita "Rita" Bertha (Kennedy) Farawell, 68, of Palm Coast, Florida. She died at Florida Hospital Flagler following her courageous battle with lung cancer.

She was born on June II, 1939, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Hermina and William Kennedy. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, along with her mother and beloved Auntie Ann, they were transported to Illinois. In 1945 her family was transferred by the U.S. Army to Long Branch, NJ; and, in 1953, to Augsburg, Germany. Finally, in 1955, they were transferred to Fort Ord, CA. Following her graduation in 1957 from Monterey Union High School, Monterey, CA, she moved cross-country to attend Jersey City Hospital School of Nursing where, in 1960, she met and married her husband, Joseph A. Farawell, and graduated with her RN.

Joe and Rita raised their family in Jersey City and Neptune, NJ; and then in Marlborough, MA, where she also served as a nurse in the Coronary Care Unit of Framingham Medical Center (now Metro West Medical Center). When her husband was transferred to Midland, MI, in 1971, she worked at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center in their cardiac care and geriatric units. In 1982, her husband was transferred to New Jersey where they lived first in Ramsey, where she worked at Valley Medical Center in Ridgewood, and then to Medford, where she worked as a home health nurse for West Jersey Home Health Care. In 1995, Rita and Joe retired to Palm Coast, FL.

She was proud to be a parishioner of Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach. Despite ailing health, she greatly enjoyed a trip to Italy along with Father John Tetlow and other parishioners. She was always ready to go at a moment's notice on a trip anywhere. Additionally, Rita devoted her time to helping others, volunteering many hours for the Auxiliary of Florida Hospital Flagler as well as their thrift store, Second Hand Rose. She was also a member of the National Mah Jongg League and played every Monday night. Rita always loved Elvis and since 2004 she has greatly enjoyed many nights being entertained by local performer, Randy "Elvis" Filippi. Every Tuesday night she met with a group of widows who supported one another and became some of her best friends.

Rita will be deeply missed by her 8 children and 8 grandchildren, Margaret A. Bartlett and her daughter, Ashley, of Longwood, FL; Barbara and Gerard Gallagher of Florida, NY, and their daughter, Angela Crowder of Midland, MI; Laura and Blaine McKenzie, and their son, Michael, of Naperville, IL; Bernadette and Brian Such, and their children, Christina Dickson and Elizabeth and Joseph Such, of Elburn, IL; William H. Farawell of Elgin, IL; Joseph P. Farawell of Longwood, FL; Michael and Margret "Maggie" Farawell and their children, Kyle and Quinn Murphy, of Crystal Lake, IL; and Erin and Aaron Patrick Workman and their children, Sean and Emma, of Wesley Chapel, FL. She is also survived by her sister, Pat Duncan, of Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Many other extended family members and friends too numerous to mention were dearly loved by her as well including many in Scotland.

There truly are a lot of people who have met her and love our "Wee Mum." We will all miss her indomitable spirit and positive outlook. She enjoyed her life and the opportunity to leave this world with a feeling of satisfaction and completion. The family is eternally thankful for the tremendous outpouring of love, support and friendship bestowed on them during the past month.

We are also grateful to the many professional members of our community who have been so dedicated to meeting her needs including her general physician, Dr. Allan Oglesby, her priest, Father John Tetlow, and all of the members of the Auxiliary of Florida Hospital Flagler. Her cats, Rosie, Rudy and Rex, gave her much love over the years and will also miss her terribly.

Her Family will receive friends on Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, 511 Old Kings Road South, Flagler Beach, and a Mass celebrating her life will follow at II :00 am at the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church, 915 North Central Ave. in Flagler Beach. Inurnment will take place on Friday, May 23, 2008 at 4:00 pm at Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens, 511 Old Kings Rd. S. Flagler Beach, FL.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 1620 S. Clyde Morris Blvd, Suite 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32119 or to Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church.