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Obituary

Obituary

Paul Farley, 73, of Willimantic, CT, passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 19, 2021. He was born in Willimantic to George Farley and Priscilla (Coderre) Farley on September 20, 1947. He had a long career as a dispatcher for the Connecticut State Police and was an active member of the South Windham Fire Department. Paul was a call man for the Willimantic Fire Department, and a member of the Willimantic Switchboard Fire Chief’s Association, and he was the first chief dispatcher at the Colchester Emergency Communications (KX).

Paul was one of a kind, as a State Police Dispatcher, he knew where every blade of grass in all of New England was and was GPS before it was invented. He was tirelessly dedicated to ensuring that the troopers under his watch came home safely each night. He kept a spotless automobile, could remember the name, date, or address of anything you ever wanted to know, and was a proud member of the community in Willimantic. He lived and breathed the fire service and dedicated his life to it. He loved to help others, sometimes giving advice about cars, or helping people to find things (and if he didn’t know where to find it, he always knew who would know). He was the epitome of the saying: “know everything about something and something about everything.” His knowledge and memory were remarkable. He was loving, kind, a good ear when you needed one, and would offer to break someone’s kneecaps if you needed him to. He used to tell people he was having a good day because he “read the paper and his name wasn’t in the obits.” Sorry for the bad day, Daddy.

Paul is survived by his wife of 39 years, Kathleen (Mosca) Farley, and his two children: Patrick Farley, and his wife, Heather Crosthwaite Farley, and their children Hayden Haggett, Hogan Haggett, and Paislee Farley, and daughter Paula Farley Sullivan, and her husband Ian Sullivan, and their son Nolan Sullivan. Paul is also survived by his sister, AnnMarie Farley Lett of Winsted, her husband Mark Lett and their two children Stacie Lett Cull and her husband Brian Cull and their children Ryan and Jordan, and Christopher Lett, and his wife Lauren Lett, and their children Simon and Holden.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to the South Windham Fire Department, P.O. Box 4, South Windham, CT 06266, or the Connecticut State Police Alumni Association. Paul’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, January 22, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. Willimantic, CT. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 1:00pm at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic, burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. For an online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.