Brendan Francis Farrell, 26, of Oak Park, died suddenly on Oct. 21, 2022. Born on Oct. 4, 1996 to Mary Alice (Gibbons) Farrell and Shaun T. Farrell, Brendan had autism, but thrived in so many ways from the richness of his life in Oak Park. Though he had an out of district placement at his day school, Giant Steps, he had every imaginable support from District 97 and District 200. He loved his summers at the pools and was a familiar sight on his adult trike about town, especially to his favorite destinations: Friday visits to the library, trips to the Conservatory to see the fish, and rides up to the main fire station.
He was sweet and gentle, happy and goofy, loving and affectionate. Brendy was nonverbal but he had brilliant and memorable ways of communicating — when he appreciated someone, he conveyed it with more clarity than the most adept speaker. He touched the lives of many people, and many contributed to the brightness and fullness of his life. He attended Giant Steps from kindergarten until his graduation at 22, and absolutely loved attending their adult day program, Canopy.
He will be greatly missed by his mother, Mary; his father, Shaun; his brothers, Jack and Kevin; his stepmother, Annmarie Dore; his grandma, Pat Farrell; and his aunts and uncles and cousins, all of whom had a special place in their hearts for him. His maternal grandmother, Beatrice Gibbons, who loved him dearly, followed him just hours after his passing.
The Farrell family would like to express their gratitude for the incredibly prompt response by the Oak Park Police Department and the Oak Park Fire Department, and for their diligence and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations in his name to Giant Steps, https://give.mygiantsteps.org/general-donation.
