Mass of Christian Burial for Darlene Farrell, 85, of Ellsworth, will be on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Tracy following the service.
Darlene Ann (Hofstadter) Farrell was born on December 17, 1933, in Currie, MN, to Leo and Louise (Ackerman) Hofstadter. She grew up on the family farm in Holly Township and attended Country School District 46 and 27. Darlene graduated from Westbrook High School in May 1951, then attended Mankato Business School. She worked as a Secretary at St. Mary’s Hospital for three years. Darlene was united in marriage to Duane Farrell on September 10, 1955, at St. Mary’s Church in Currie. The couple raised their five children on a farm in Skandia Township before moving to Balaton in 1976. Darlene worked winters at Swift’s in Marshall for several years, and she spent 24 years working at the Marshall Independent.
Darlene was proud of her garden on the farm, where she grew flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed stamp collecting, playing bingo, reading, and going to auctions. Darlene and Duane enjoyed traveling in their camper, especially their trip to Alaska. Darlene was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Tracy and St. Mary’s at Lake Wilson, where she served as secretary to the Ladies Guild. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary. Darlene and Duane moved to Parkview Manor in Ellsworth in 2010, and Duane died in January 2011.
Darlene died on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at the Cottage Hospice House in Luverne. She is survived by her children Catherine (Jerry) Drager of Hanley Falls, Jim (Barbara) Farrell of Maplewood, Mark (Cindy) Farrell of Ghent, Joel (Cindy Jo) Farrell of Ellsworth, Dennis (Dobbin) Farrell of Santa Clarita, CA; grandchildren Nicole (Tom) Ruud, Marissa Viaene, Erin (Douglas) Hoskins, Leigh (Jordan) Bauer, Daniel Farrell, Lee Farrell, Megan (Chris Wells) Farrell, Amanda (Brady) Renkly, Hanna Hieronimus, Dalbey Farrell, Dillin Farrell; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters Dorothy Ruppert, Leone Arndt, Evelyn Lund, Mary Sweetman; brother Leo Hofstadter; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Louise Hofstadter, husband Duane Farrell, grandson Benjamin Farrell, sister Dolores Schmitt, brothers-in-law Robert Schmitt and Raymond Ruppert, and sister-in-law Leslie Hofstadter.
