Grace Rivera Farrell

Grace Badayos Rivera Farrell

December 27, 1962 – April 18, 2022

Orlando, Florida – Grace Badayos Rivera Farrell passed away peacefully in her home on April 18th, 2022, at the age of 59, after a courageous five-year battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) – a neurodegenerative disease for which there is no current treatment or cure.

Grace was born into humble beginnings in Naga, Cebu, Philippines on December 27, 1962. She was baptized, received her First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Naga. After completing all of her early education, Grace graduated from Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos College of Commerce in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She first met her husband, Ray Farrell, in December 1990 when he was stationed at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines. They were married on June 24, 1991, just prior to Operation Fiery Vigil – the complete evacuation of U.S. Forces from the Philippines due to the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption.  As a military spouse, Grace embarked on an exciting 20-year adventure with Ray and their three daughters (Marlena, Rayna, and Raquel).  The U.S. Air Force took them to Utah, the Republic of Panama, Maryland, Japan, and Florida.  In support of Ray’s exemplary career in the U.S. Air Force, Grace devoted her days caring for their three daughters and whichever stray Airman Ray brought over that needed a warm meal and a cold beer.  Grace lived her life with just that, absolute grace – elegance, finesse, courtesy, and dignity.  Her home was always pristine but warm and welcoming to anyone and everyone.  Grace had a great capacity to roll with the vicissitudes of life with style, poise, and a smile, accepting whatever difficulties life threw at her.  Grace loved to play horseshoes, cornhole and go bowling – she had great aim and an affinity for throwing things.  Her love for cooking was well known throughout her circle of family, friends, and their entire military community.  She was very generous with her cooking, frequently hosting small, and often VERY large, gatherings in their homes, once cooking 3000 lumpia for a squadron fund-raiser in Utah.  Grace’s curiosity for other cultures, open heart, organizational skills, and pragmatic nature made her well-suited for her life as a military spouse.

Grace was was loved and admired by all, and grounded by family until her death. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Farrell; their three daughters Marlena, Rayna, and Raquel; six grandchildren, Ariana, Kailani, Mykah, Karina, Lilynne and Declan with a seventh grandchild on the way; her mother, Luz Rivera; her brother, Jundy Sayson; and her sister, Jackie Sumner.

Please consider a donation in memory of Grace Farrell to Cure PSP, a non-profit organization that has been fundamental in providing awareness, education, and support to not only our family, but to many others who are afflicted by this debilitating disease. Visit www.psp.org for more information.