In addition to Elizabeth, the obituary notes that he left behind �one son a year and a half old. Nearly two years ago he lost a boy 8 years old.� This accounts for young John, buried in the O�Farrell plot at St. Patrick�s. Yet, we know Marcus and Elizabeth had five children because of notes on a later birth certificate that recorded the number of pregnancies of the mother. In addition to little John, there is also a grave for "Marie", who was born in '88 and died in '89. When Marcus died there was one surviving son--Marcus O�Farrell II, and one son, as yet unborn--Charles. Elizabeth probably didn't even know she was pregnant.
According to the article in The Standard, Marcus O�Farrell was born in Auburn, California and had graduated from St. Mary�s College, San Francisco. He predeceased his father, John; his brother, M.J., and a sister who was of the religious order at Notre Dame, Sister Mary Victor. It is Sister Mary Victor�s prayerbook �Keys to Heaven�; and inscribed �Mother O�Farrell� that I have on my library shelf at home. So prominent a citizen was Marcus O�Farrell, that following his funeral he made the front page on two consecutive days. The headline in the Wednesday, January 28, 1903 newspaper read �Last Sad Rites Over the Body of Marcus O�Farrell�. The picture of the floral tribute {above} accompanied the article which went on to outline the numerous mourners and floral tributes sent to the family.
It must've been a difficult time, indeed, for Elizabeth O'Grady O'Farrell to lose such a beloved husband and expecting a child. Luckily, she had a loving family and there was another strong figure waiting in the wings to care for her and her boys.