NORWICH – Beatrice B. Farnham, 88, of Rexford Street, passed away on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton.
Born in Norwich on Oct. 3, 1923, Bea was the daughter of Frank and Lillian (Lawton) Brewer. She graduated from Norwich High School with the Class of 1942. On July22, 1944, in St. Paul’s Church, Bea married Gerald F. Farnham. Gerald died on Sept. 3, 1988. After working for a short time as a legal secretary, Bea dedicated herself to raising her family. Later she did clerical work for the Chenango County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services.
Bea was an active member of St. Paul’s Church, the Ladies of Charity, the Altar & Rosary Society as well as the former St. Paul’s Mother’s Club. She was a Eucharistic Minister and also helped on the Funeral Hospitality Committee. She volunteered her services at the local food pantries and at Guernsey Library as well as serving as a Girl Scout Leader.
Bea is survived by her eight children and their spouses, Donna and Warren Snyder of Sebring, Fla., Gerald and Constance Farnham, of York, Pa., Raymond and Ann Farnham, of Atherton, Calif., Kathleen Farnham, of Binghamton, Robert and Catherine Farnham, of Fort Myers, Fla., James and Janet Farnham, of New Paltz, Timothy Farnham, of Norwich and Peter Farnham, of Dallas, Texas; nine grandchildren, Stacy, Sydney, Geoffery, Stephanie, Kristen, Joseph, David, Kyle and Grace; one great grandson, Trystan; a brother, Ward Brewer and his wife, Betty of North Carolina and two nephews, James and Donald Brewer. She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Elizabeth Margaret Farnham.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Bea was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17 at St. Paul’s Church. Burial followed in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends called at the Wilson Funeral Home on Saturday from 2-5 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Bea may be made to either the Roots & Wings Food Pantry or to the Our Daily Bread food pantry.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.