Joan K. Farrington

Joan K. (Brown) Farrington
HECTOR-October 14, 2023 passed away on her 86th birthday peacefully while she slept after a wonderful day of celebrating with family, friends and the caring staff at Seneca View. Joan is predeceased by her parents; Francis Brown and Henrietta (Kiefer) Brown, her siblings; Beryl Brown, Rita Nowlan (m. Wayne) and John Brown, and her loving husband Leslie Farrington. She is survived by her children; Chuck Kendall (m. Toni Snyder) and Kimberly Kendall, step-children; Greg Farrington (m. Paula), Paul Farrington and Victoria Farrington, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Joan was born in Elmira, NY in 1937. She graduated from Odessa High School and then married and settled in Hector, NY in her late teens. She raised her two children well, taught Sunday school at Hector Church, and spent many quality hours with Martha Murphy and her group of friends who she valued greatly. Joan was known for lending a helping hand and a listening ear to anyone in need.

Joan remarried and moved to Southern California in 1969. She had been attending Ithaca College while in New York and then eventually attained her Master’s Degree from Cal State University. She enjoyed being a college instructor at Glendale Community College for many years, worked several part time jobs in various leadership positions and for fun she taught line dancing!

Joan and Les were married in 1984 and built their own log home, with Chuck’s help in Pine Mountain Club, Southern California. They enjoyed living there for many years and hosted several, memorable family holidays. Once they both retired they sold their home, bought an RV and thoroughly enjoyed life on the road. They purchased a home in Hector, NY in 2001, continued to snowbird for a few years and then settled into Hector year-round.

Joan led an extremely full and active life! She loved a good garage sale or thrift shop and had the art of taking a few garments of clothing and turning them into an outfit to be admired. She and her husband were often seen at community events especially if there was music and dancing. Even in their elderly years they were at Rasta Ranch for Mondays night blues, at music in the park in Watkins on Tuesdays, in Trumansburg for the farmers market on Wednesday, the Oasis at Hazlitt’s on Fridays and in Hector church every Sunday, even though she almost always entered fashionably late!

After Les passed in July of 2020, Joan transitioned to assisted living in Elmira before eventually residing at Seneca View where she appreciated visits from her friends and family. She lived a courageous and fun life, filling her days as a wonderful mother, an adoring grandmother, a loving wife and an active member in the community. She uplifted many lives along the way and will be dearly missed. The funeral will be at Hector Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 28th at 4:00pm, with a reception immediately following.  Arrangements with Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home (www.RoyceChedzoy.com)