In Memoriam: Carole Marie Farber (1944-2022)

Carole Marie Farber was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, USA and died in London, Ontario, Canada. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth Jane Haensel Farber and Herbert Gordon Farber; sisters, Barbara J. Boettcher, Joann M. Kuiper, and Nancy J. Patteson; and her dear friend, Arlene Higgs. She is survived by her nieces, Bonna J. Boettcher (Mary E. Zachary), Elizabeth M. Wegner (Bruce), and Ann L. Patteson (Dennis Lautenschlager); great-nieces, Abigail Wegner and Amara Lautenschlager; great-nephews, Benjamin Wegner, Andrew Lautenschlager, and Marcus Lautenschlager; and brothers-in-law Paul Boettcher (Joyce), Russell Wygant, and Mark Patteson.

Carole grew up in Montevideo, Minnesota, and attended Sibley Elementary School and Central Junior-Senior High School, graduating in 1962. As a child, she studied ballet, tap dance, gymnastics, and twirling; she also was an accomplished bowler, winning several awards, enjoyed golf, and worked as a lifeguard at the municipal swimming pool. She studied piano, played baritone horn in the school band, double bass in the orchestra, and later learned to play the flute; she also was a member of the high school debate club. She attended the University of Minnesota for one year, transferring to the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, where she studied anthropology and received her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. Her doctoral work focused on Jatra, the travelling theatre of West Bengal, and she lived in India for several years, completing the field work and research necessary to complete her dissertation.

Carole spent her career at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University). She was a member of the Faculty of Anthropology for a number of years, served as Dean of Continuing and Distance Studies and as Director of the Women’s Studies Program, before moving to the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, where she remained until her retirement as Associate Professor Emerita. Carole continued her research in India throughout her career and worked closely with several programs aimed at forwarding women’s economic status. She also had a number of local research interests, including early studies on cake decorating (“True Dough”), Highland Games in southwest Ontario, and lawn ornaments. As her career progressed, she embraced many critical theories, incorporating them into her work and teaching.

Graduate students were central to Carole’s academic life. Her wide-ranging scholarly interests served her students well, as she was able to advise on many different topics, from tabla drumming to critical film theory. Throughout her career, she worked with countless master’s and doctoral students, as their primary advisor, and also as a reader, both internal and external, on their theses and dissertations. Carole challenged her students, pushing them to excel. She nurtured them, opened her home to them, and was a true mentor to each. She was extraordinarily proud of their accomplishments and remained in touch with several, until recently.

Carole became a Canadian citizen in 1982, and fully embraced her country and her surrounding area. She enjoyed day trips to Pinery Provincial Park and the surrounding towns and villages; she attended the Stratford Shakespeare Festival regularly, as well as smaller festivals around the area. Carole adored Manitoulin Island, and she and Arlene made many trips there and spent many happy weeks enjoying the island and the opportunity to disconnect and relax. They generously entertained any family able to make the trip to the island.

As the youngest of the “Farber Girls,” Carole’s family was important to her. She particularly embraced her nieces and their families and set an outstanding example of how to be an aunt. Even after her sisters died, her brothers-in-law remained important members of her family. She extended the care for her family to Arlene’s family, and especially Arlene’s nieces and nephews and their families.

At Carole’s request, there will be no service. In remembrance, please consider a donation to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, to be used for the highest priority needs as determined by the Board of Directors; The Canadian Cancer Society, to be used for the highest priority needs as determined by the Board of Directors; The Alzheimers Society, to be used for the highest priority needs as determined by the Board of Directors; Western University, to be used to support Graduate Student Overseas Research; Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra; or the Mennonite Central Committee.

If you would like to leave a note in a guest book for Carole’s family, visit the London Free Press obituary page.