Bernice Emily Farrell's Obituary
Bernice (Bea) Emily Martinovsky Farrell, 97, of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, passed away on January 3, 2022 after a brief illness.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of the late Frank and Rose Martinovsky. She graduated from Farragut High School and attended Northwestern University. Bea loved music and played piano at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She enjoyed bowling and at age 16 was recruited by the Women's Pro Bowler League but was interrupted by World War II. She continued to bowl well into her 80s. Bea was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Chicago where she was training to fly new aircraft to designated airfields when the war ended.
Bernice met her husband, Richard Farrell, while he was in the Air Force on leave in Chicago. They married in 1946. She moved to his hometown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she began a lifetime bond of friendship with his four brothers and their families.
While raising five children, Bernice began her career with Pittsburgh National Bank in the Operations Department. At the time of her retirement, she was a bank officer and held the title of Vice President of Operations. After retirement, Bernice joined a bowling league, volunteered in the community, followed pro golf and the Chicago Cubs, and remained an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. In 2016, she moved to Pawleys Island in South Carolina.
Bernice is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Farrell and her son, Richard Farrell, Jr. She is survived by her children, Michael Farrell (Debra) and their daughters Lindsay and Sarah; Patricia Sands (Robert) and their family Evan (Chase), Alexander (Kelsey), Morgan, and Ashley Setcavage (Stuart); Martin Farrell (Carole) and their three children Ryan (Megan), Casey (Joanne), and Katie Giroux (Adam); Paul Farrell (Elizabeth) and their sons Jonathan and CPL William, USMC (Amanda); and eight great grandchildren.
All services will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh 15236. Visitation will be held Friday, January 14 from 2 to 8 PM. A burial service will be held Saturday, January 15 at Noon, followed by a private family interment. The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Apraxia Kids Foundation at www.apraxia-kids.org.
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