Suzanne Ellen Farrell

Suzanne Ellen Farrell (nee Leoni), 78, of Rochester Hills, MI, passed away May 13, 2022. Suzanne was born July 28, 1943 in Pontiac, MI, the daughter of Albert and Sylvenia (née Waller) Leoni. Suzanne was born in Pontiac, Michigan in 1943 just 16 months after her brother Albert Anthony. Suzanne graduated Birmingham (Seaholm) High School in 1961. At a young age, along with her brother “Tony”, Suzanne would drive or ride the train from Detroit to Chicago and onto Carbondale in southern Illinois to spend the summer months on Uriah and Bessie Waller’s family farm in Thompsonville, Illinois. It was this connection to southern Illinois that led Suzanne to attend Southern Illinois University for several years while pursuing an art degree. After college, Suzanne for a time lived in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before returning to set roots in Metro Detroit for the rest of her life. Professionally, Suzanne excelled in the human resources field within the mechanical and automotive industry for over 20 years. Outside of work, Suzanne continued her fondness for art and art history by extensively traveling the world with her husband “Pat” and family. Beyond numerous domestic road trips and vacations, popular destinations outside of North America included Greece, United Kingdom, Thailand, and Italy. In fact, Italy became a repeated and favorite destination ultimately culminating in an audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Personally, Suzanne loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren encouraging them to embrace and excel in artistic endeavors. Suzanne loved to express her creativity through numerous mediums ranging from sketching, cross stitching, knitting, painting, and photography, to crocheting, quilting, gardening, and furniture restoration and upholstery, to cooking, baking, decorating and interior design. Year after year, Suzanne would dream up hand-made gifts to hand out each Christmas season, including soaps (Suzy Soaps, affectionately), scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets. This, in fact, led to an annual Christmas tradition of a hand-made gift exchange, most of which lead to laughs, and others that are still beloved and used to this day. After retirement, Suzanne, along with Pat, reveled in having family and friends gather at their house to enjoy the Michigan summers around their pool and flower-lined patio “oasis”. If the sun was out, there was a good chance you could find Suzanne floating in the pool and soaking up the sun. Suzanne, or “Suzy” to those that were closest, will forever be remembered for her creative pursuits, welcoming demeanor, and love for her family and friends. May she rest in peace Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 39 years, Patrick Farrell. Suzanne is remembered with endless love by her brother, Albert (Verna) Leoni; children, Mark Farrell, Beth Farrell, Karen (John) Ureel, Richard (Laura) O’Herron, Colleen (Michael) Nagher, and John-Patrick (Kate Steeby-Gaffey) Farrell; and grandchildren Evan Panichella, Austin Panichella, Peyton Nagher, Tess Nagher, Samantha O’Herron, Alivia Gabler, Jamieson Farrell, and Carson Farrell; and great-grandchildren Eliza Panichella and Theo Panichella. Suzanne was also an aunt and great-aunt to many others. Family will receive friends on Thursday, May 19th from 2:00 - 8:00 pm at Wasik Funeral Home, 49150 Schoenherr Road (at 22 Mile Road), Shelby Township, MI. Funeral service will be on Friday, May 20th at 12 pm at Guardian Angel Cemetery, 4701 Rochester Road, Rochester, MI. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Wounded Warrior Project.

Suzanne Ellen Farrell

July 28, 1943 - May 13, 2022