Jane Margaret (McGauley) Farrington

Jane Margaret (McGauley) Farrington, 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in Manchester, NH.  Jane was the second of five sisters born on January 4, 1933, in Worcester, MA, the daughter of W. Leo and Gladys A. (Fleming) McGauley.  She was the wife of the late Gerald K. Farrington, married in July 1962 from which they had five children and resided in Derry, NH. 

Jane and Gerry met at the famed and swanky Casino-by-the-Sea in Falmouth, MA.  Jane was a waitress and Gerry an admiring patron whom she noticed with his feet at rest far too casually upon a bench seat (“show-off style”) prompting her to ask him if he “did the same at home and would his mother approve of such?”  -The rest is now a narrative and apparently love at first ‘scolding’! 

After completing high school at Saint Stephen in Worcester, MA in 1951 she initially worked at AT&T as a phone operator helping to support her mother and sisters.  Jane had grown up with an appreciation for fine art which kindled her passion and gifted artistic abilities.  With the strong encouragement of her mother and a very recognizable talent, she enrolled at MASS College of Art in Boston, MA.  While there, she excelled in watercolor and oil painting, sculpture, block print, and illustration.  Of course, Jane had her multiples of “starving artist” stories to share with everyone - further validating her credentials in addition to the adored artwork she leaves us with (including the infamous “Golly-cards”).  She made many friends at MCA with her friendly, welcoming demeanor and caring personality, leading her to numerous lifelong friendships.  Jane began her career as a commercial artist for the Chase Paper Company.  She later became a freelance artist for Worcester’s largest advertising agency, Cooney & Connor - considered a pioneering accomplishment for women of her era.

Jane is survived by her oldest twin sons Michael Farrington of Rangely, ME, and Daniel Farrington and his wife, Donna, of Scituate, MA, Laura Farrington of Boulder, CO, Tom Farrington of Worcester, MA, and Carole Reisner of Portsmouth, NH.

She was the loving and devoted “MyJane”, “Gigi”, and “Grammy” to her eight wonderful grandchildren, Colin and Erin, Conner and Bryan, Christopher and Ryan, Jaina, and Shannon.  Her family and grandchildren were the center of her life.

Jane is also survived by her four sisters, Lizz Sarfaty of Malone, NY, Mary Lou Warren of Worcester, MA, Patricia McGauley of Medford, MA, and Nancy Johnson of Worcester, MA - whom whenever together, uncontrollable laughter and shenanigans would ensue.   

Jane Margaret Farrington is very much loved by so many and will be greatly missed by all five children and eight grandchildren, four sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial mass will be offered on Saturday, September 16, at 1 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 207 Hemlock Street in Manchester, NH.

In memory of Jane or in her spirit, please draw, color or paint a homemade card and send it to someone you care to know are “loved and hugged”.