Margaret A. Farrell

DELMAR- Dr. Margaret A. Farrell entered into eternal rest on September 9, 2026. Marge was born on March 9, 1932, in Troy, NY. She attended St. Augustine’s Parish School in Lansingburgh and Catholic Central High School, where she graduated valedictorian of the class of ‘49. She attended the College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, where she was president of the Student Senate and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in 1953. From there, she went to Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA, where she received her master’s degree in 1954. Marge then taught mathematics at St. Lawrence, Chatham CS, and Shaker High School before joining the faculty of SUNY Albany.

During these years she was actively pursuing graduate studies through NSF fellowships at the University of Chicago, Oberlin College, and Indiana University. She attended several summers and one full year at Indiana University which culminated in Marge earning a doctoral degree. Her Ph.D. and a promotion to full professor at SUNY Albany occurred at the same time. Later she was awarded the Tibbits Award and an Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Farrell was professionally active as president of the Association of Mathematics Teachers of NYS. In addition to co-authoring two textbooks with her colleague, Dr.Walter Farmer, she authored many articles and spoke at local, regional, and national conferences of mathematics teachers.

After retirement, Marge traveled extensively to Ireland (four times), England, Scotland, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, and Italy. She also spent time in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Alaska.

Committed to environmental issues, she became a member, and later president, of Five Rivers. Marge also served as president of the Interfaith Center’s board for two terms at SUNY Albany. A faithful parishioner of the church of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, she was a choir member, eucharistic minister, member of the Parish School Board, and the leader of a scripture group for 12 years. It was also with other church members that Marge went on a life changing pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Extremely limited sight and mobility issues in her later years caused her to restrict some of her activities. However, she continued to bring communion to the home-bound and played rubber bridge with three patient friends.

She became an avid listener of books through the NYS Library for the Blind and was able to continue making afghans for babies of single moms through Christ Child Society.

Dr. Farrell is predeceased by her parents, Mary, and Edward Farrell, her two sisters, Eileen Farrell Greco and Kathryn Farrell Anderson, her older brother, Arthur Farrell, as well as her niece, Patricia Greco, and brother-in-law, Peter Greco. She is survived by her younger brother, Gerald Farrell, her sister-in-law, Mary Farrell, and her brother-in-law, Thomas Anderson, as well as seventeen nieces and nephews and thirty great nieces and nephews. She remembered the birthdays for all seventeen nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special cousin, Catherine Bertini.

There will not be any visiting hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by her nephew, Rev. Thomas S. Anderson, SJ, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Place, Delmar, NY on Saturday October 31, 2026 at 10 a.m. The interment will be held privately in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made in Margaret’s memory to the Regional Food Bank, Catholic Relief Services, or the Capital City Rescue Mission. Online condolences may be offered at danielkeenanfuneralhome.com