Grammy Farrell & Tristy's Pianno Improv

Tristan pounded the keys, while Gram shows that she still has the ability to use her old vaudeville improv piano skills in this film clip. A gem to be sure.

Lordy... Lordy... Looks who's "40"

Even while I was busy planning a massive surprise "40" party sneak-attack, Samantha one night turned to me on the couch and said, "I DO NOT want any kind of surprise party for my 40th." Needless to say, I couldn't let this special number pass unnoticed.





As many of her family has kids, we had to pick a venue in which entertainment (and space) would keep everyone happy. Many thought my idea of bowling was a bit odd, but once everyone arrived and strapped on those funky shoes, the fun began.





The reason I picked Bon Aire, is because they only charged us for the use of their lanes. It is a BYOB place, and they allow you to bring and serve your own food. I got a giant sheet cake from Giant Eagle, and some folks brought snack food type stuff.





The kids had bumper lanes, and simply had a ball. Everyone kept saying they had a great time, and I'm thinking about doing it again next year for my 40th.

November ='s Birthdays

November always has us going to birthday celebrations. Earlier in the month it was Erin & Gram McEntee. Then last Sunday, we all got together for a Chicken dinner at Oakwood Square.

Thanks for the delightful meal Dad. Also thanks to those who sent me cards, gifts, & well wishes. It was very thoughtful and much appreciated. Here are some pictures from both of those evenings.

Forgot to post...(Halloween)

It's been a busy month of November...

Before December arrives, I best get a picture up from our annual Pumpkin carving family tradition. I guess I forgot to post this, so better late then never I guess. This year we grew our own pumpkins in the garden, and since we had 2 that were worthy we made a cyclops pumpkin experiment.

I'll try and get pics of the kids in their costumes off of Jana. I don't seem to have any on hand.

Farrell Family Holiday Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Aunt Sal 1913-2008

When first told of Aunt Sal’s passing, my 5 year old son, replied simply to my wife:
“She was my friend.”

Few folks that I’ve come across have had as much to offer as Sarah Farraher. Sarah, or Sally, as the folks at work would grant her that nickname, would later grow to become our own “Aunt Sal” as to most of the neighborhood, extended family & friends would come to know her. Or as my mother used to say, she was everybody’s Aunt Sal and for good reason.

Sal grew up through some rough times, especially during the depression years. Urged by her Mother into a local business school, Sarah would enter the workforce at an early age. After several clerk positions in various placements, she ended up logging 37 years of her life working for Blaw-Knox in their payroll department., Sarah used to always joke that “The workers used to love to see me coming, because they knew I would be the one delivering them their paychecks.”

While her co-workers might sing her praises, Sarah herself had a true fondness for music. For many years, she used to sing in the Alto section located here in St. Kieran’s Choir loft. She was known to enjoy an occasional ‘highball” every now and then while down in the game room at my old house on Negley Ave. As a kid I would listen from atop the steps late on a Friday night, and hear her sing out to old tunes like “Shine on Harvest Moon” with her sisters Marie and Ann while Rita Farrell would tickle the ivory, along with the whole extended family singing into the wee hours of the evening.

How very fortunate we - who were younger have been - to have grown up as children inside the Farragher household. Aunt Sal epitomized that generous unselfish spirit, often sacrificing for those less fortunate in the family, as if they were children of her very own. Her hard-earned money - always seemed to find its way for the most noblest of causes; be it a new pair of shoes for school, art lessons for young Phil, investing in Mariann’s first new piano, assisting where able with various college tuitions, helping the family to finance the purchase Tara cottage. For myself, she helped me afford my first car, & secure a down payment for my house. And when I would feel overwhelmed by such acts of kindness her oft reply to me was always the same reassuring: “You’ll pay me back when and how you are able, there’s no rush.” And I always did. No one in my living life ever gave so much as to aid another family member as did Aunt Sal. She was the true Matriarch of selflessness and sacrifice. Sarah was that family Icon of what my sister Erin & I would later come to proclaim as true Farraher “unconditional love.”

Sara was always on the go, known as the family chauffer, having owned various Oldsmobile-like jitneys used to cart the men in her family off to work each day. She would often vacation across the country, enjoying the Grand Canyon, the South West, or visiting overseas to such far off places as Cuba, Ireland, and Rome. It was important for her to know that we were afforded opportunities and chances to travel the world, as it was she who helped me during my first trip to Ireland. Perhaps one of her most prolific travel stories would be the night she dreamt of ‘shoes’, causing her Mom to look up the numbers-book as if to predict a lucky Irish lightning strike… As providence would have it, THIS WORKED!!! By playing those very numbers on the lottery, Sarah’s premonition won it big! With her newfound cash windfall, Sarah made good on a promise to take her Mother by ship back to Ireland after having been away from her homeland for over 60 years. Sarah then used this journey to reconnect with the Irish cousins who we still communicate with to this day. Aunt Sal’s winning lottery ticket is still paying our family dividends.

Another admirable trait of Sally was her sacrifice for posterity. At almost every family event or function, she could usually be found hiding behind the other side of a camera lens or bulky film projector. Hours and yards of old films taken, long gone Christmas mornings, forgotten Birthday parties, and 1000’s of precious photographs later proved to be a true labor of love. She used technology to capture the images of our childhoods, or helped preserve views of her predecessor’s generations (such as her parents) for my children’s children to observe. These treasures will continue to be passed down through future generations, so that Sal’s sacrifice of lugging 40 lbs of lighting equipment on her back will have never have been wasted in vain.

Finally, I leave you with the hallmark of Aunt Sal, and for me it was her enduring smile. Her eyes could light up a room. Her voice was always full of encouragement, with comments like “You are such a good artist, or I think that one day you might grow up to be an architect, or a doctor or a musician.” Education was everything to this enlightened woman, as if were a vehicle to provide a means or hope for a better life than was maybe afforded to Sarah’s own life-path experiences.

Sal may not have had any children of her own, but she never suffered a lack of being surrounded by kids that would grow to love her. As I would so often tell my friends while growing up, the Farragher sisters were sort of like having “Bonus Grandmothers”. I shall never forget our trips to Islay’s for chocolate ice-cream, or rides through the Cemetery to feed the Squirrels, fun trips to Aspinwall to see the boats and the choo-choo trains. Many of us have our own Sal memories and stories, perhaps too many to tell, or too little time to recall them in such plethora.

Sarah Farragher, thank you for making our lives just a little bit easier. Thank you for helping each of us to realize our potential in all of life’s avenues and domains. You have lived a good long happy life, affirmed by this surrounding of family and friends gathered here with us on this day. And while we may seem to mourn your internment within the all too familiar blackened walls of Allegheny Cemetery’s neighboring cerement, we are instead assembled here together as loved ones who wish to celebrate a wonderful and happy life such as your own; that is a true testament to others as to how we might and should live out the rest of our days while here on this earth.

We love you Aunt Sal.