ST HELENS Crematorium was packed out for the funeral service of a loving dad and popular former rugby league coach.
Barry Farrell had bravely fought myeloma cancer, after his initial diagnosis in 2015, and underwent numerous treatments over the years.
Barry passed away peacefully, without pain on Saturday, January 27 surrounded by his daughters Cara and Ellie, and ex-wife Sharon, with whom he remained friends.
As attendees made their way into the chapel at St Helens Crematorium on Tuesday afternoon (February 13) as Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love was played.
Among the large congregation were figures from the rugby league community, including former Saints captain James Roby.
Celebrant Gary Smith opened the service, inviting attendees to celebrate Barry’s life.
Cara then read out a moving poem written by her and sister Ellie in memory of their dad.
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Barry’s friend Ste Woods, who coached with him at Blackbrook, then gave a tribute to Barry, who described as “like a brother”.
He said Barry was “a legend” that no-one had a “bad word” to say about, and always “put others first”.
Ste shared some humorous anecdotes including the times he and Barry travelled to Las Vegas to watch Ricky Hatton boxing fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, with Baz missing the fight on both occasions after drinking.
He finished off his tribute with a poem in memory to Barry.
The celebrant then shared details of Barry’s life, attending St Mary’s and then St Anselm’s schools, in Blackbrook.
It was said he was a “real character” and “it was simply in his nature to have fun”, being jokingly added “and with that getting caught” though said “he was always guilty by association”.
Barry later attended West Park College and would go on to work as a graphic designer at Vinyline, and in later years “continued to produce signage for local firms, never having to advertise, securing jobs because of the quality of his work”.
It was said Barry was “never one to say no to anything, in work or in life”.
The service heard how Barry loved to holiday, with other destinations including Tenerife and Corfu, and another highlight going to see his Elvis’ house at Graceland, Memphis. Other passions of Barry’s also included cars and dogs.
It was said that rugby was “a way of life” for Barry, and that he loved Saints and “loved playing the game more” and was a scrum-half at Blackbrook.
He later coached at the club for years, with future Saints players including James Roby, Gary Wheeler and Jamie Foster among those he oversaw.
The celebrant then said there was “one more memory” Barry’s family wanted to share which “gave them strength” from his final day.
It was described how Barry “moved on” calmly and peacefully surrounded by Cara, Ellie, and Sharon. It was said how it was the “four musketeers together” and Barry’s “eyes brightened, a startling blue” and “it almost felt as if someone was calling him to take him away”.
The congregation were then invited to reflect on their memories of Barry as photographs were played to more music by Elvis, before a video of Barry singing Suspicious Minds was played.
The celebrant then closed the service saying, as Barry rests in “God’s eternal garden”, his “soul and spirit will live on and shine brightly, like his eyes, in each one of you.”
Suspicious Minds was then played as the congregation exited the chapel.
A reception to continue celebrations of Barry’s life was then held at Blackbrook rugby club.
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