Obituary of Yolanda Farra

Yolanda Marie Cavallaro Farra, known to some as "Yolie," was 96 years young. In the early morning of March 1st, she passed away at Morristown Medical Center from injuries sustained by a fall.

Yolanda grew up in New York City with her parents, who immigrated from Sicily, Italy, as well as her younger sister Dorothy, who currently resides in Monroe Township.

After graduating High School, Yolanda attended Brooklyn College and received her Bachelor’s degree. Upon graduating, she toured Europe on her own. She spent a majority of her career at IBM as a Senior Systems Engineer until she retired in 1991.

In 1970, she was married to the love of her life, Douglas Farra, affectionately known as her "Honeybuns," and they shared 48 happy years together. Shortly after their marriage, Yolie and Doug moved to Parsippany, NJ and selflessly opened their home to help take care of Doug’s father, Bashir and then, Yolie’s mother, Josephine when they could no longer care for themselves.

Yolanda and Doug, spent their retirement visiting their various homes, including Lake Placid, and Lake Snow, NY, during the warm weather months when fishing, hiking, and boating could be done. During the winter months, they enjoyed spending their time in Florida and wound up purchasing a home in Sarasota,  which Yolanda enjoyed up until last year.

Yolanda was an extremely independent and outgoing woman who loved to travel both to the mountains and the shore, socialize with friends, families, and strangers alike, and eat great Italian food. In her younger days, she was known to snow ski, water ski, sail, canoe, and drive motor boats, which sometimes ran out of gas on Lake Placid.

Yolie loved getting together with her sister, Dottie. They delighted in spending time with one another, reminiscing about their youth, followed by conversing about politics, and their love of family. They frequently enjoyed returning to the city to see Broadway plays, stop at favorite Italian bakeries, and visit the graves of their parents and Aunt and Uncle. They also enjoyed taking their great nieces and nephews on various outings. Yolanda focused on the cousins building relationships with each other. She always said that family was important.

Yolie enjoyed watching PBS documentaries, and Turner Classic Movies. In her free time, she played bridge, faithfully attended Church, and spent time with her family and friends. 

Yolanda was preceded in death by her parents John and Josephine Cavallaro, her husband, Douglas Farra (2018) and her niece, Susan Kerian.

Yolanda is survived by her sister, Dorothy Kerian of Monroe, NJ, her beloved niece and nephews, Gwendolyn Kolbeck (Edwin) of East Brunswick, NJ, Richard Kerian (Elizabeth) of Jacksonville, Fl, James Kerian of Texas, and David Kerian (Claudia) of Plymouth, MA, as well as her 12 grandnieces and grandnephews, Jennifer Duncan (Keith) of North Brunswick, NJ, Michael Kolbeck (Karen) of Spotswood, NJ, Matthew Kolbeck, of Honolulu HI, Ryan Kerian (Dusty) of North Carolina, Gregory Kerian, of NJ, Adelaide Kerian, of Jacksonville FL, Allison Remmert (Bryce) of TX, Eric Kerian (Lauren) of Edmond,OK, Kevin Kerian (Emma) of Peoria, IL, Justin Kerian (Ashley), of Pryor, OK, Elizabeth Kerian (Jose), of OR, Joshua Kerian, of Ocean Twp. NJ and her 14 great grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visiting hours will take place at Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 from 4 PM until 8 PM on Thursday, March 9th. Funeral mass will take place at St. Virgil’s Parish, celebrated by Monsignor Duffy, on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 10:00am, followed by burial at Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice, in her memory, as Yolanda supported many charities.