Sister Barbara Farley, OP (Sister Marie Celeste) of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, died Thursday May 19, 2022 in Wall, New Jersey. She was 86 years old.
The daughter of the late Leo P. and Josephine McGrady Farley, she was born June 2, 1935 in Newark, New Jersey.
Sister Barbara entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York in September 1956, made her First Profession in June 1958, and Final Profession in August 1961. She received a BA in
Elementary Education from Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY and a Master’s degree in Education from SUNY at New Paltz, NY.
During her teaching career, Sister Barbara taught at the following schools: Bishop Dunn Memorial School in Newburgh, NY, 1956 to 1957, Saint Lawrence School in Lindenwold, NJ, 1958 to 1965, Saint Augustine School in Larchmont, NY, 1965 to 1966, Regina Coeli School in Hyde Park, NY, 1966 to 1973, Center for Developmental Learning and Reading (Montessori) in Newburgh, NY, 1973 to 1974, Regina Coeli School in Hyde Park, NY, 1974 to 1976 (Montessori), Holy Rosary School in Hawthorne, NY, 1976 to 1977, Saint Joan of Arc School in Camden, NJ, 1977 to 1983, and Christ the King Parish in Haddonfield, NJ, 1994 to 1995.
Sister Barbara was principal of Saint Joan of Arc School in Camden, NJ from 1983 to 1994. She was appointed as Director of Religious Education at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Short Hills, NJ, a position she held from 1996 to 2004. In 2004 Sister’s career took her to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mountainside, New Jersey where she was the Director of Religious Education until 2012. After retirement, she moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Sister Barbara’s funeral will be held at the Dominican Center on the campus of Mount St. Mary College on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. There will be a wake in the Chapel beginning at 9 a.m. followed by a prayer service at 10:15 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. and burial will take place immediately following the liturgy in the Dominican Sisters’ cemetery on the campus of Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, NY.
In addition to her Dominican Sisters of Hope, Sister Barbara is survived by her brother Donald Farley, her sisters Helen Cooke, Jeanette Wolfe, Joan Reading and many beloved nieces and nephews. Sister is predeceased by her brother Leo Farley and her sister Mary Lyden.
Donations in Sister Barbara’s memory can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Development Office located at 299 North Highland Avenue, Ossining, New York 10562.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brooks Funeral Home in Newburgh, NY.