Frances Elizabeth Teresa Farah
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Frances Elizabeth Teresa Farah, 77, of Kansas City, MO passed away November 8, 2023 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center from influenza. Celebration of life services will be held at Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church of Lenexa, KS on December 1, 2023 at 7pm. Ms. Farah was born in Baltimore, MD and grew up in Lowell, MA where she graduated from Lowell High School. While attending the University of Iowa to receive her Bachelor of Arts in English, Ms. Farah met and married her first spouse, Dr. Louis T. Giron, Jr.
Ms. Farah later continued her education and was awarded an MFA from the University of Missouri Kansas City in Directing. She worked at DST for many years and, after retirement, at the Mid-Continent Public Library and then the Kansas City Public Libraries. Ms. Farah founded New Directions Theater, taught at Theater for Young America, and directed inmates at Leavenworth in theatrical productions. She also produced and founded In Play Productions with her wife and creative partner, Jacqee Gafford. Together the two of them introduced many new, socially concerned plays for Kansas City audiences.
From the time that she was a child, Ms. Farah was concerned with fairness, kindness and generosity. She was a life-long activist for causes of social justice and civil rights and coordinated volunteer initiatives for underserved populations. She always stood up for justice and for those in need. Ms. Farah was an organizer for Heartland Alliance for Progress and was that organization’s liaison for Missouri Jobs for Justice. She coordinated the gathering of thousands of signatures for ballot initiatives on behalf of ethics reform in state government, workers’ rights and Medicaid expansion. She organized volunteers for progressive candidates and public policy. For these and many other reasons, she was the recipient of the KC Shephard’s Center 70 Over 70 awards in 2021.
Ms. Farah is preceded in death by her father, Joseph Farah and mother, Rosa Farah.
Ms. Farah is survived by her wife Jacqee Gafford and her two daughters from her first marriage Felix Giron (Wen Lin) in Shantou City, China and Gabrielle Giron in Kansas City, MO as well as her two sisters, Jo Anne Dickerson in Cape Girardeau, MO and Linda Carroll (William Carroll) in Sarasota, FL and their children.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Rose Brooks Center: https://rosebrooks.org/ or The Kansas City Pet project https://kcpetproject.org/.
Visits: 11
I am so sorry for the loss of Fran. I met her at Loose Park at a rally for Howard Dean when he was running for president. Fran welcomed me (from Kansas) so warmly. Then she got me involved!
She was beloved by everyone she touched.
Every loss is sad and so it is for Fran.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Fran was always so nice to me when I was a shy kid. I remember she used to tease me about eating junk food. My sympathies to Jacqee and the kids.
Fran was a kind, gentle soul. I feel very fortunate to have known her. My condolences to Jacquee and the rest of Fran’s family.
I’m so sad to learn about this. Fran gave me one of my earliest lead roles in Kansas City and I am forever grateful to her for giving me a chance. What a kind and loving person she was and just unforgettable. Hugs and prayers to dear friend Jacquee.
I’m so sorry to hear about Fran. She was a volunteer when I worked for the Jackson County and Missouri Dems and I’ve enjoyed her company at many events like HAP and others. I truly found her to be one of the most thoughtful and generous people I’ve met in politics. Sending love
Fran was a relentless Citizen Ballot Initiative signature collector. Hard work, little reward, lots of time taken out of her personal time…just a labor of love and commitment to the hope that Missouri would respect voter’s voices.
It is hard to imagine a world without one of the fiercest defenders of justice, our own Fran Farah. She lead a life undaunted by resistance, in fact, compelled by it. She was always on the right side of issues, looking for ways to make life better for those less fortunate. Fran was and is my hero. And she will be enormously missed
Her memory will be a blessing and her impact great.
I will miss seeing her out and about, often with a clipboard in hand, telling me a great story about a conversation that she just had.
She was a force. We will miss her.
Fran..is forever an inspiration! Her gift to humanity … “Our world is better place for all because she was here.” Your laugh is forever in my heart. We had a ton of fun. When I see you again, we just must finish up and do our tortilla challenge! Thank you from my soul dear pal!!! Love ya….
Fran was an incredibly kind and compassionate woman who was always thinking of others. She was a loyal part of nearly all campaigns for justice, and I was fortunate enough to see her volunteer on my own campaign. I never forgot how she went out of her own way for me or for anyone else.
Very sorry to hear of her passing. I met her in passing several times and was always a kind and generous person. All our best to her friends and family.
Josephine Njoroge
November 15, 2023
Very sorry to hear about the death of Fran. She was a tireless worker and HAP’s Queen of collecting signatures for ballot petitions. She will be greatly missed.
Jacqee and the girls you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I was so saddened to hear of Frances passing. From the moment I entered the political arena, she was an ally and endless well of support and advice. Talk about a remarkable human! Her passion, dedication, and fight for others is undeniable and an excellent example of what it takes to get great people, especially women, elected.
Jacquee, my heart goes out to you and her daughters. I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. The two of you were remarkable together and blazed a trail for so many of us to follow. Thank you for sharing her with us over the years. My deepest condolences and prayers.
Fran was such an amazingly talented person. Her love for the theater was infectious and her energy seemed to have no bounds!
I will smile every time I think of her because we shared so many great times and many laughs.
She became a tireless advocate for so many social issues. The community has lost a great social warrior.
I am sending my condolences and love to her beautiful family!
I am so sorry to hear about Fran’s passing. I first met FranI and Jacqee through the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus. They both exhibited a lot of integrity and were tireless volunteers helping women win elections and take their place at the table. She really made a difference and will be missed.
Our Frani was an effervescent, brilliant bundle of energy who could never do enough for those she befriended nor for those many causes she believed in and fully supported. My late husband, Paul, and I counted ourselves so very, very fortunate to have known and to have fully enJOYed both Frani and Jacqee. Jacqee and Family, you have my deepest sympathy and my condolences.
I am truly sad to hear of Fran’s departing!! She was surely the most wonderful, caring soul one could meet!!! Sharing love and condolences for all her friends and family. Thank you Fran for a life well lived and loved.
I met Fran when she and Jacquee choreographed and directed Woke by my friend Keith Andrews. She was meticulous and compassionate as she conscientiously organized the rehearsals and asdusted in directing the play. She was so living and caring. I know she is missed and the footprints she leaves behind will not be ignored or forgotten. Thank you Fran for the light you brought to all whose lives touched yours. Jacquee my thoughts abd prayers are with you and all the family.