Meredith A. Farnan, 80, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2023. Born on Sept. 2, 1942, in Maryville, Missouri, to Mary Willis Farnan and Leo Farnan, Meredith was the oldest sister of seven Farnan children.
Devoted to serving those in need and to causes protecting the environment, Meredith strongly believed in speaking out against injustice. Having grown up on a farm in Cameron, Missouri, love of people and the land filled her with purpose. She worked as a paralegal at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 28 years. Following her retirement from the EPA, she served as president of Congregation Ohev Sholom and then as its executive director.
A pillar of the Kansas City Jewish community, she was active in the Jewish Family Services immigrant resettlement program and was a lifetime member of Hadassah, Ohev Sholom Sisterhood, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) and Jewish War Veterans.
Meredith was preceded in death by her loving daughter, Jennifer Musulin Farnan; her brother Robert Leo Farnan; her sister Mary Elizabeth Farnan; and her parents, Mary Willis Farnan and Leo Farnan.
She is survived by her sisters Rose M. Farnan, Sheila Farnan, and Brigid (David) Gabriel; brother John (Annette) Farnan; nieces Jennifer Farnan and Amber Koenen; nephews Robert Farnan, Randy Crowley, James Farnan and Henry Farnan; and many cousins. She is also survived by Kiet Lam, Pauline Le and many close friends she considered family.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City, M.S. Society Mid-America Chapter or the Kansas City Indian Center.
The family would like to thank and offer sincere gratitude to the caring and gracious staff of the University of Kansas Medical Center Progressive Care Unit 62 and Kansas City Hospice House.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, July 9, at Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial at Conception Abbey Cemetery. Online condolences for the family may be shared at louismemorialchapel.com.
