Francis M. Farnan

Winchester, N.H. and former Bethel, CT resident Francis Michael "Pete" Farnan, 97, passed away December 16, 2021, in Keene, NH.

Pete was born December 21, 1923 in Bridgeport, CT, an only child to Owen and Margaret (Seeley) Farnan.

When Pete was in eighth grade, the family moved to his grandfather's farm in Bethel, CT where he lived until retiring to Winchester in 1988. He served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator and crew chief in Hawaii from 1943-46. He later became a member and Commander of the same Bethel V.F.W. Post 935 his father Owen was in, making them the first father-son members of Post 935 in Bethel.

In 1947 he married his first wife and cherished mother of his four children, Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mayette. With Peggy's support and encouragement, Pete completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern CT State University. Peggy predeceased Pete in 1976.

A multi-talented artist, Pete was a career sign painter, painting billboards, ads and logos in CT, and showcard theater signs in New York City. In the late 1960's, Pete found a home for his artistic talents at the Danbury State Fair in Danbury, CT, painting signs and repairing and restoring the fair's many character figures, including the 38-foot Uncle Sam now on display at the Danbury Rail Museum, as well as painting the logos and lettering on actor Paul Newman's race cars.

Pete married his second wife, Annette Moreno, in 1985, and they moved from Bethel to Winchester, N.H. in 1988. She predeceased him in 1998.

A devout Roman Catholic, Pete began an almost 20 year journey of restoring and repainting religious statues for St. Stanislaus Parish in Winchester, which spanned over time to a number of restorations for churches in NH, MA, and NY state.

Pete's third marriage was to Dorothy "Dot" (Bliss) Doolittle in 2006. He thought the world of Dot, and enjoyed her company more than words can say.

Francis leaves behind his wife Dorothy; daughter Kathleen and son-in-law Robert VanDuzee, son Peter Farnan, son Patrick and daughter-in-law Deborah Farnan, son Sean Farnan; grandchildren David and wife Stephanie, Jon and wife Yuki Mino, Kristy, James, and Amanda; great-granddaughters Kelsey, Emily and Aily.

The family thanks everyone for your condolences and would like to especially thank the 2nd floor staff of the American House, Keene, NH for their unwavering compassion and excellent care of our father/grandfather during his illness. They kindly ask that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America or National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Private burial services will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bethel, CT.  There are no calling hours.

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