Obituary of Diane Lynn Farrell
Diane Lynn Farrell, 74, of Stratford, Connecticut, passed away on December 1, 2024 at Bridgeport Hospital. Born and raised in Milford, Connecticut, Diane was the beloved daughter of and is now reunited with her late parents Harry Paul Farrell, Jr. and Cornelia Taylor (Bishop) Farrell, and her late step-mother Barbara Farrell. She is survived by her younger sister, Judith Ann (Farrell) Hauschulz, of Loveland, Colorado, her nephews Peter F. Hauschulz, of Lövestad, Sweden, and Samuel T. Hauschulz, of Loveland, Colorado, her grand-niece Isla A. Hauschulz and grand-nephew Kai D. Hauschulz, both of Loveland, as well as her step-siblings Pamela Moss of Massachusetts, Pat Lillo of Arizona and Robert Page of Florida, and by extended family and friends.
Diane delighted in the company of others, especially children, and enjoyed making social connections through her participation in Kennedy Collective and many other programs. Open to adventure, she aspired to activities that defied expectations…most recently, by going parasailing at the Orlando shore during a visit to Florida in 2022. She also took great pleasure in attending Sunday services at her neighborhood United Methodist Church which, as it happens, was the same church where her parents were married 76 years ago, and where the current clergy and congregation were especially gracious and welcoming to her.
A music fan with eclectic and modern tastes, Diane often requested CD's for Christmas or her birthday, to add to her collection – Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton and Rihanna were among her many favorites – inspiration for her own brand of "girl power", no doubt.
In many ways a reflection of her times, Diane was among the last generation to suffer the debilitating effects of polio as a young child in the early 1950's but, with the dedicated care of her parents, she regained her ability to walk. She was an early beneficiary of the movement to integrate special needs learning into mainstream public education in the 1960's and 1970's, where she thrived under the genial and gifted tutelage of Don Civitello at Milford High School. And, in spite of her limitations but with the steadfast support of her care team, she remained her own guardian and advocated for herself to the very end. Girl power indeed.
Much gratitude goes to Diane's care team, especially to Cindy Napoleone and Maria Rao with the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, for their dedicated and tireless efforts to expand and enrich Diane's experience of life.
Arrangements are being compassionately handled by Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd, Trumbull, CT 06611. No public services are planned at this time. Private interment will take place at King's Highway Cemetery, 271 Cherry St., Milford, CT 06460. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Diane's honor may be made to the United Methodist Church in Stratford, Connecticut (sumcct.org/waystogive).