Farrell Collins

CAMBRIDGE-Farrell Collins graced this planet with her open heart, twinkling eyes, and creative intelligence for almost 64 years, returning to Mother Earth on April 16, 2015. A poet and storyteller by night, she used her writing skills to make a living as a technical writer, editor, business analyst, project manager, and user experience consultant for a wide range of businesses in Chicago and Madison. Over a long and productive career, Farrell combined her writing and analytical skills with a secret inner geek to help create better technology-related solutions. She had an uncanny ability to find associations between seemingly unrelated information, often providing just the right perspective to solve a workplace or personal puzzle or avoid a potential disaster.

Farrell was a lover of women, both as a feminist and in her personal life. She served on the national board of the Feminist Writers Guild in the early 80s, read her poetry in numerous feminist venues, and lived long enough to legally marry Nancy Lawler (Sage) Collins her partner of many years. From 2001 to 2009, she and Sage edited Matrifocus, a quarterly e-zine with a worldwide readership that gave independent voice to the Goddess Movement in its scholarship and its practice. A woman of great integrity, her intention was, in her own words, to "help the music ring more true."

A prolific reader of science fiction and fantasy (sff), Farrell also wrote sff for friends and publication. She analyzed others' work with the precision of a Swiss Army knife, often sitting on panels at WisCon and offering the occasional published writer her critical feedback. Music was Farrell's second love. In her teens, she performed with a Kansas City folk group, playing guitar and often soloing. For many years, she sang in Womonsong as well as hosting drumming circles in her home.

Farrell had a clear-headed kindness and was always generous with her knowledge, time, and talent. Her gentle sense of humor animated many lives. She was an insightful friend and will be missed terribly by many.

In addition to her wife, Sage, she is survived by her brother, Michael Collins; his wife, Leslie; and her nieces, Perry and Emma. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Tom and Marjorie Collins of Kansas City, Missouri.
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