In Memory
Naomi R. McFarland, 90, of South Bend, passed away at home on Friday, March 10th. She was born June 2, 1932 in Muskego, WI to the late Earl and Martha (Gegg) Brown. On April 29, 1955, Naomi married Rev. John Harold McFarland, who preceded her in death on April 5, 2014.
Naomi is survived by her sons, Rev. John T. (Mabel) McFarland of New Carlisle, OH; Lt. Col. Jeffrey T. (Doren) McFarland of Loundon, TN; Christian M. (Rhoda) McFarland of Nappanee, IN and Peter B. McFarland of South Bend, IN; and daughters, Susan P. Brown of Plano, TX; Beth Ann McGinnis of Fort Wayne, IN; Carole L. McFarland of Rock Valley, IA and Jill M. McFarland of Nappanee, IN. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Naomi will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 19, 2023 at Clay Church - Firehouse Campus at 17646 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN. Visitation is from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Ft. Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the McFarland family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
03/17/2023 JFC
Barbara Shanafelt (Cole) (1959)
I was fortunate enought to live next door to the Brown family when I was young (1946-1953) on East Jefferson Blvd. My mother died in 1949 and Naomi was our babsitter for that summer. In 1947 she took a trip with my family to Washington DC and New York City and to see Washington's home in Virginia. My dad had a 1946 Studebaker pick-up truck and he put an Army surplus cover on the back and we had a camper. Naomi rode in the back of the truck with my brother Bob and I and my parents and my youngest sister (at that time) Sue rode in the cab with my parents. It was a very fun trip and we often talked of it with fond memories. My sister Sue called Naomi BNomi for some reason so Naomi called her Bsusie! Later Naomi's sister, Fern babysat with sister Sue when school started as dad had to work and Bob and I were in school all day. Fern lived around the corner from us and was an older sister and was married and had two children at that time herself. Alfred was Bob's age and Mary was Sue's age so we had good playmates. The Brown family was large and interesting. I remember Marvin, Ralph and Barbara who were nearer my age as well as Miriam, Beverlee, Donald, Arnold and Earl Jr and their parents. It was great to have such good neighbors. The Brown family took care of us when later my dad remarried and went on a honeymoon with his second wife.