Peter V. Farella

Peter V. Farella age 87 years resident of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Beloved husband of the late Marie nee EUL; loving father  of James Farella and Gina (John) Howley; devoted son of the late Vincent and Ann nee Fragola; cherished grandfather of Martin, Joseph and Timothy Howley.

Peter is reunited with his wife Marie and so many family members that have gone before him.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation on Monday, June 15, 2026  9:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church 1500 Brookdale Rd., Naperville, IL.

A private interment  will be held at St. Mary  Cemetery, Evergreen Park Illinois.

Peter Vincent Farella was born on October 14, 1938, in Chicago.  Before he mastered walking, because of his club foot, his mother and his cousin Joe (only seven years his senior) would carry him, taking two buses to Shriners’ Hospital, where he would get his legs cast.  He felt a real connection to Shriners’ and to St. Jude’s Hospitals and would ask for donations to be made there for presents for his birthday and Christmas.

All Saints was his elementary school and the nuns were strict.  He had dozens of funny stories and took pride in the pictures he still had from junior high and the friends he could still name.  When Pete was ten years old his father’s dying words were to take care of his mother.  Pete’s devotion to his mom included prioritizing her needs and well being through 2004, when she joined her husband Vince in heaven at 101 years old.

Through high school, Pete took odd jobs wherever he could.  His cousins owned grocery stores where he worked.  He set up pins at Nappenelli Bowling Alley where younger cousins would show up to bowl and pester him a little.  Through all his time in Bridgeport cousins, both older and younger were his siblings. He would often reflect on how poor he and his mother were in these times (how he didn’t have a quarter to attend a church picnic) but there were so many happy memories with family.

They all lived in Bridgeport, a town divided by a railroad track.  As a rule, residents stayed on their side of the track, so it was a wonder when he ended up dating at then marrying the “prettiest girl from the other side of the tracks.”   They became integral to each other families; calling both mothers “MA.”  Family was everything!

Around the same time, the two moved south to Beverly and Pete opened Pete’s Barbershop where he ran his business, cutting hair and providing advice and friendship to his “family,” friends and neighbors in Beverly, until retiring in October of 2005.

He was extremely proud of sending his son James and daughter Gina to Catholic Schools and of the family’s home in Oak Lawn – which he’d owned for over 55 years.  He would unabashedly share that the only people he loved more than his children were his grandsons, Martin, Joe and Tim.  He also really enjoyed being part of the Howley clan and having so many beautiful kids around on holidays! 

Old friends, new friends and neighbors were family; Family was everything!!!  A few laughs and a good meal were the best ways to spend time. We’re going to miss you PETE!

In Lieu of flowers contributions to Shriners Children's Hospital 2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607 US or St Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105-9959

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Peter V. Farella, please visit our floral store.