Karole Rae (nee Stoll) Farley

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Farley, Karole Rae (nee Stoll) age 95 of Mound, MN passed away peacefully on May 23, 2017. To many who knew her, she was affectionately known as Tode. She was born on February 19, 1922 in Lyndale, Minnesota. Early childhood was spent in Mound and summers were spent in Anoka, MN with her grandparents. The family moved to St. Louis Park where she graduated from high school. She met Robert Farley, the love of her life, at age 19, when she was a young aspiring jazz singer. She joined his big band in 1940. They married in 1942 when Bob was in the army and first lived in Carthage, MO where Bob was stationed. After the war they bought the Farley family's rustic summer cottage on Dutch Lake in Mound. She and Bob spent their lives building and perfecting their dream house there. They chopped holes in the frozen lake to haul water up the hill to boil for washing diapers. They raised six children Patrick (deceased), Timothy (Renee), Elizabeth, Kathleen (William), Sean, and Molly. She had 14 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Karole learned to sew and made clothing for herself and her family of 8. She developed her skills to become a well-known sewing instructor for Amluxen's of Minneapolis, Val's in Navarre, MN and the Mound-Westonka Community Center. She was also an accomplished milliner. She was renown for her lively couture outfits, always topped with her matching signature bolero hat. Growing up Karole and Bob filled the house with live music with Karole at the piano playing and singing and Bob playing either clarinet or sax. Karole had a very large collection of American popular song, including very obscure pieces. The children went to bed hearing recordings of classical music. Her soulmate, Bob, passed in 2001. Karole continued to live in the family home on Dutch Lake. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, husband Robert, and son Patrick. A memorial celebration of Karole's life will happen at a later date. For more information contact kfarleylandscapedesign@ gmail.com

Published on May 28, 2017