Barbara A. Farrell

East Greenbush - Barbara Anne (Hellmuth) Farrell entered into eternal life unexpectedly on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Albany Medical Center Hospital following a stroke believed to be related to a fall a month prior. She passed quietly surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born on March 30, 1935 in Albany to Irene St. Onge Hellmuth and John F. Hellmuth. When her young mother passed away when Barbara was only a year old she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Anna B. Hellmuth Cook and Francis Ten Eyck Cook - "Mother" and "Cookie" - and her father. She graduated from St. John's Academy in Rensselaer, Class of 1952. Barbara was a talented singer and studied voice at the Albany Conservatory of Music as a teenager. She performed on many local radio shows and performed many solos at St. John's Church in Rensselaer. She met her future husband, John "Jack" Farrell in high school and was smitten at age 13. Jack also was a talented singer and they sang together in the choir and performed in many school musicals and minstrel shows while in school, even performing the leads in a musical entitled "The Tenor Sings," where there was an elaborate wedding scene where they got "married." After graduation and Jack served four years in the U.S. Navy, they were married at St. John's Rensselaer on November 17, 1956 and for almost 70 years made beautiful music together. In later years they sang in the choir at the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights and with Cordial Greens Glee Club. After graduating from high school at age 17, Barbara began her working career at Eastern Chemical Corp in Rensselaer as a transcriber. She then moved to a job at Huyck Felt Company in Rensselaer and was a transcriber and filled in on the switchboard, a job she enjoyed very much. When her third child was born, she decided to devote herself to the most important job and career of her life - being a stay-at-home mother, a role she was meant to play! In 1965, Barbara and Jack moved to East Greenbush ("The Country" as our grandmother referred to it!) when they bought a brand-new house on Sherwood Avenue and raised their four children there. Until her sudden passing, she remained in her home even after Jack had to move to the Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing Home. She took great pride in her home and loved gardening and the birds in her yard. She was a fabulous cook and baker and passed those traits down to her daughters and granddaughters, who will continue to carry on her traditions and recipes. Can you say "Lamb Cake??!!" Barbara and Jack enjoyed many happy years camping in their trailer and she loved nothing more than sitting by the campfire and making "pies." Barbara was a gentle soul who never said a bad word about anyone. She never said No when asked a favor, especially from her children. She selflessly cared for her grandchildren when they were young so their parents could work and not worry, therefore creating unbreakable and special bonds with her grandchildren. She taught them to cook, bake, crack an egg, and make construction paper "dirt," not to mention how to write their names and sing silly songs. Her tradition, even up until she left us, was to call each and every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild on their birthday and sing "Happy Birthday," always with Dad chiming in with the harmony. They sounded wonderful together. We will miss the sound of her humming almost non-stop. Mom's only regret in life was that she never got to see the Grand Canyon. We do believe at this moment that she has the most spectacular view of it - one you only see from Heaven. She cared gently and lovingly for her mother and Aunt Frances in their golden years, which was an enormous comfort to them. Barbara was predeceased by her birth mother, Irene St. Onge Hellmuth, her father John F. Hellmuth, her parents Anna B. and Francis T. Cook, a very special aunt and uncle, Frances and Albert Dreefke, in-laws Agnes and Thomas Poole and Bernie and Jackie Farrell, and many special aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

She is survived by her adoring husband of 69 years John "Jack" R. Farrell, Sr. of Van Rensselaer Manor, her loving children John R. Farrell, Jr. (Mary Anne), Mary Anne Tonkin (Mark), Michael J. Farrell (Mary), and Susan Farrell-Melick (Brian). She was the Most Special Grandmother of Andrea N. Lubbers (Michael), Matthew F. Tonkin (Charissa), Evan J. Melick, Brianna K. Melick (Husband Aiden Earlywine), Joshua T. Farrell (Rachel), and Rebecca "Becca" A. Farrell (fiancé Michael Lewis). She was the proud and loving "GG" Farrell to Noah C., Violet A., and Ivy G. Tonkin, Owen B. Farrell, expected new Baby Girl Farrell in Oct. of 2026, and adorable Grandpuppy Emmett Lubbers (who loved to jump on GM's lap). She is also survived by her sister, Doris T. Smith (William, deceased) and her niece Cyndi Leschen and family and her nephews on the Smith Bros. Farm in Charlton, Richard and Shelley Smith, William Smith, and David Smith (deceased). She is also survived by her cousin Pauline Bohley and many nieces and nephews on both the Hellmuth and Farrell sides of the family. We are grateful to Bruen Rescue Squad, the East Greenbush Police Department, and the C3 Unit at Albany Medical Center for their attentive and compassionate care of our Mother.

Calling hours will be Monday, May 11, 2026, from 9 to 11 AM at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church, 54 Herrick Street, Rensselaer, NY, with a Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Activities Department of Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing Home, 85 Bloomingrove Drive, Troy, NY 12180 - Attention: Matt Plew.