Joanne T. Farrell

Waltham – Colonel Joanne T. Farrell, U.S. A. (Ret.), of Waltham, died Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at the Leland Home in Waltham. She was 80.

Col. Farrell was born in Waltham on May 5, 1933, a daughter of the late Daniel and Helen (Downes) Farrell. She graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Waltham, Mount Auburn Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge and earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Maryland.

In 1956 she enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army and spent the next twenty-four years caring for sick and wounded warriors at Army hospitals and medical centers throughout the United States and overseas.

She retired as a colonel in 1980 from her last duty station at Fort Lewis, Washington and lived in Lakewood, Washington for a number of years before recently returning home to Waltham.

Col. Farrell leaves her brother, John H. 'Jack' Farrell of Holliston; her sisters, Mary E. Cutter of Nashua, New Hampshire and Barbara M. Cummings of Waltham and many nieces and nephews.

She was also a sister of the late Robert E. Farrell, Sr.

Family and friends will honor and remember Colonel Farrell's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, August 23rd, from 4 to 7 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning when her funeral service will be held. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.