Marjorie Joan Merkert Farrell died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at her retirement home in St. John’s, Florida. She was 91 years old.
Marjorie was born December 6, 1931, and grew up in Larchmont, NY, with her parents, Ethel Hayes Merkert and Eugene Charles Merkert and two older siblings, Eugene Hayes Merkert and Kathryn Merkert Tully. She enjoyed playing tennis and swimming at the Larchmont Shore Club. Joan, as she was known, won the Westchester County Swimming Championships and excelled in many other sports. She graduated from The Ursuline School and Georgetown Visitation College.
Joan married her high school sweetheart, Thomas J. Farrell, also of Larchmont, in 1964. They raised two wonderful children, Jeanmarie Devinney and Thomas J. Farrell III, in Charleston, WV, Raleigh, NC and Jacksonville, FL. They later retired to a lovely home in St. John’s, Florida, where Joan was very active in the San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church. She also volunteered for many years as a Marshall at the PGA Tournament at Sawgrass, Florida.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Farrell in 2006; her daughter, Jeanmarie Devinney in 2009; and her son, Thomas Farrell III in 2012. Joan’s beloved dog, Charlie, passed away at the age of 16 in 2016.
Joan is survived by her two loving grandsons: Tyler Deans (married to Taylor) and Brennan Deans, both of Portsmouth, VA , and her three great grandsons: Levi, Nolan and Cole. Joan is also survived by many loving Merkert and Tully nieces and nephews who looked after her in her final years.
The family wants to thank Judy and Casey Jones, Joan’s dear friends, and Kellie Palmer along with the staff at the Legacy at St. John’s where Joan lived for her last 5 years as well as Community Hospice and Palliative Care in Jacksonville, FL.
A memorial Mass will be offered on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 10:30 am, at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church in Jacksonville followed by graveside service at Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery.
