Merlyn Anne Jacobsen-Farrell

Merlyn Anne Jacobsen is remembered by many as a friendly, creative, talkative and witty woman. She was born on October 23, 1934 and died peacefully November 16, 2022 at the home of her youngest daughter Barbara Jacobsen (64) with the support of her beloved friend Linda Park and her loving cat Cali. Merlyn was born to Veta May Tower and Daniel Herman Jacobsen in Ames Iowa. She later moved to Brookings, South Dakota and settled in the Chicago area by 1942. She has an older brother Daniel Jacobsen (deceased) and a younger sister Betty de Vise’ who currently lives in Maryland. After graduating from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, IL in 1952, she met her first husband, Howard Jacobsen (deceased) and was married in 1953. Together they had 4 children: Diane, Kurt, Barbara, and David. Merlyn spent her early years raising children, sewing, knitting, and skiing. In 1972, while her children were still attending school, Merlyn decided to go back to college. She went to William Rainey Harper College and pursued a degree in fashion design. It was through this program that she met Sandra Groh Clark and eventually helped look after her daughter, Browning. Merlyn spent years caring for Browning and often included her granddaughter Jessica, who was similar in age, on great adventures creating a deep and loving connection that still exists today. Upon graduating from fashion school, she started her own sewing business and called it Merlyn’s Needle Magic. She always loved her unusual name and often referred to herself as Merlyn the Wizard. She created costumes, made bridesmaid and bridal dresses for wedding parties and worked as a seamstress in stores. She also loved making quilted clothing which she sold at craft fairs. Merlyn loved to travel not only by car on road trips to see her granddaughter sing, but she flew off to Europe or anywhere that she could to ski or bike with others. She had an adventurous spirit with a heavy foot and no fear. If you were ever driving down I-90 and a little white haired lady passed you in a red Corolla you could be pretty certain it was Merlyn. She would drive all over Chicagoland and even as far as Niagara Falls to watch her “Rockstar” granddaughter Jessica perform, dancing and rocking to the audience’s delight. “My Grandma is in the house!” Merlyn was a devoted grandmother and would always make herself available to babysit. She not only helped raise granddaughter Anne during her first three years of life but she took her grandson David, with his big bunny, into her home while he attended a private school. And note that her involvement didn’t slow down with her great grandchildren. While living in Chicago with her daughter Barbara, many of her great grandchildren would have sleepovers and negotiate with each other as to who was lucky enough to share Merlyn’s bed. Maddie, one of the youngest, usually won and became her fast companion. Bingo was the after dinner activity and Merlyn was a fierce competitor. She loved being creative, teaching her grandchildren to use her sewing machine making fleece sweaters or pillowcases and even hook a rug! Her influence is especially seen in her granddaughter Veta who followed Merlyn’s path to fashion school in New York. The newest generation continues to be influenced by her creative nature as several have inherited the same love of fashion, needle craft and art. She definitely left her mark on the future of the Jacobsen clan. When not catering to her grandchildren or family you could find Merlyn at social or singles groups, ski clubs, cycling clubs and senior dancing events. She met her second husband Gordon Lee Farrell at such a gathering. They married on her birthday, October 23, 2007. She and Gordon loved dancing and spending time with family, particularly the grandchildren. Late into their 70’s they often took her first great grandchild Jacob for overnight stays, toting him around to all their favorite spots, especially McDonalds. In the last two years of her life, with Gordon living full time in a nursing home, Merlyn moved to the city of Chicago to live with her youngest daughter Barbara. She found city life challenging at first but grew to love her walks to the beach and music festivals, walking to nearby restaurants for dinner and the frequent dinner gatherings at Barbara’s home with neighbors and friends. She was always the one at the table that made everyone laugh with her quick witted comments and fantastic sense of humor. And after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, she attended a senior day care program where she quickly became one of the favorites of the group with her extensive stories, photos of her travels and Merlyn’s Magic creations and of course her family. Merlyn will be most remembered for her beauty and sense of style, witty humor, love of travel, storytelling and her undying devotion to her grandchildren and family. When asked what her favorite memory was during her lifetime she mentioned her 2018 family trip with her friend Ann Bechtel to Hollywood Beach, Florida. Surrounded by family and one of her best friends perfectly describes what she treasured most in life. She never missed an opportunity to gush about her 23 grandchildren. She loved deeply and lived a full and vibrant life. She was a giving soul who could make friends easily no matter her age or location. There are very few people in this world like Merlyn Anne Jacobsen. And upon her death she stated very clearly that she was “not dying”. She wanted to live on through all of those that she dearly loved. Merlyn is survived by her husband Gordon Farrell, her sister Betty de Vise’, her beloved cousin Craig Matheny and her four children Diane Jacobsen, Kurt Jacobsen, David Jacobsen and Barbara Jacobsen, her step-children Wade Farrell, Patyrce Farrell, William Farrell and step grandson Sam Farrell, and her 23 grandchildren and great grandchildren: Jessica Robinson, David Robinson, Jacob Horwitz, Veta Horwitz, Peter Horwitz, Anne Jacobsen, Kirsten Lujan (Jacobsen), Lindsey Haering, Lauren Jacobsen, Luke Jacobsen, Kathryn Judkins. David Robinson (Jr), Tiffany Robinson, Nathan Robinson, Madison Robinson, Jacob Kerrigan, Loretta Kerrigan, Elise McLaughlin, Avery McLaughlin, Charlie Haering, Olive Haering, Garrett Mortensen, Eleanor Conwell..

Merlyn Anne Jacobsen-Farrell

October 23, 1934 - November 16, 2022

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Merlyn Anne Jacobsen-Farrell

October 23, 1934 - November 16, 2022

365 Days of Grief Support

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