Elisabeth Ann Farrell

Elisabeth (Ann) Lambert Farrell died unexpectedly on December 24, 2010. She was the only child of Russell Wharton Lambert and Mary Elizabeth Oyler, born on September 18, 1935 in Cherry Valley, IL. Her youth was spent in various towns in northern Illinois where her minster father was assigned to Methodist churches in the Rock River Conference. After graduating from New Trier High School in 1953 she attended Duke University later transferring to Syracuse University and graduating in 1957 with honors in journalism. She met her future husband, Thomas Adam Farrell, there and they married in 1958 in her father's church, then in Buffalo, NY. They made homes in 11 places: Montreal, Buffalo, Pensacola, Okinawa (and Japan), Hawaii, Brunswick (ME), Marblehead (MA), Cooperstown (NY), Philadelphia, Iowa City, and happily, Madison. Each offered a palette of opportunities for her and spanned her husband's medical training, military service as a Navy flight surgeon, and career in academic ophthalmology. Throughout the following years, however, Ann was able to volunteer or work in her field. Some highlights were as Corporate Director of Public Relations and Marketing Materials for an architectural firm with offices in Chicago, Orlando, and Iowa City; more creative work in a three-woman public relations firm in Cedar Rapids; Editor (for four years), then a member of the national Scholarship Committee for The Garden Club of America in New York City for ten years--two as chair; and locally as an active volunteer with Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's Art League, the UW-Arboretum's Development Council, and finally the Madison Symphony Orchestra League. She had a special love for her granddaughter, AnaMaria and was an accomplished cook, needlepoint artist, gardener and constantly nurtured a passion for collecting Asian art and antiques She is survived by her husband of 52 years, a daughter, Kim, in Vashon, WA and a son, Adam, in New Providence, NJ. In lieu of flowers contributions can be directed through the University of Wisconsin Foundation to the Earth Partnership for Schools Endowment Fund of the UW-Madison Arboretum.  A Music Memorial Tribute to Elisabeth will be held at 3 pm on Saturday, February 5th, 2011 at COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 326 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI  53705