| Date of Birth | January 2, 1951 |
| Passed Away | May 19, 2026 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | May 26, 2026 |
| Service Time | 12 p.m. (Noon) |
| Service Location | Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home |
| Interment Location | Bath National Cemetery |
Cathy Jean Dobell Farnham
HORNELL – On May 19, 2026, Cathy Jean Dobell Farnham rose and flew into the arms of Jesus. She was born January 2, 1951 in Hornell to Robert A Dobell and Ann L (Mighells) Dobell, who predeceased her.
Cathy’s 75 years on this earth could be best described as a vocation of sacrificial love, characterized by her faith in action, a heart of servant leadership, the creation of a spiritual foundation for those she loved, and her unconditional love to God and those that were blessed enough to cross her path.
She married the love of her life, Joseph Charles Farnham, on September 12, 1971 at the 52nd Street Chapel in Fort Hood Texas.
After starting her nursing career in 1969 with her forever Bestie, Janice Hennessey, she married and focused on her dream of having children and being a homemaker. Cathy & Joe moved back to New York after his military discharge and proceeded to build the large family she had dreamed of.
Cathy was the epitome of servitude, to her family and to the God she loved. She created a loving home for her husband and children, where the door was always open to friends and family.
Cathy’s love of God radiated from her as she brought peace and calm to all (and there were many!) who came for coffee, talks, and brownie sheet cake. The lives she touched are countless, with her faith, devotion, and prayers reaching so many. She will always be in our hearts, sorely missed by those of us she left behind. But we find joy in the fact that she has joined the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and await our arrival.
Cathy was predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Debra A Dobell Mallory.
Surviving is her loving husband of almost 55 years, Joseph C Farnham; her daughters, Jodi C (Scott) Amann, Carin J Farnham; her sons, Joshua C (Leanna) Farnham, Charles J (Heather) Farnham, Jonathan C Farnham, and Casey J (Luna) Farnham; her adopted daughter Ellen Slaght; her grandchildren, Christoper, Joseph, Ethan, and Emmalene Amann, Riley, Kira, Skye, Kelton, and Amery Farnham; her great grandchildren, Orion and Astrid Amann; her siblings, Sherri (Doug) Swann, Robert (Barbara) Dobell, Susan (Roy) Brown, Thomas (Jessica) Dobell, and by proxy Christopher (Karen) Randall; her over 50 nieces and nephews; Best friends, Stephanie Lorow, Susan Pryor and Victoria Nichols; her special puppy Perdy; and multiple cousins whom she loved so very much. She had every single one of these loved ones’ birthdays memorized!
We rejoice with her in her new home and patiently await the day we see her again.
Calling hours are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Noon) TUESDAY (May 26, 2026) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell, NY where a funeral service will take place following calling hours at Noon. Committal services and interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Bath National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to St. Ann’s Academy, P.O. Box 446, Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
The Bishop-Johnson & Desanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Cathy’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Cathy are welcome below a or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & Desanto Funeral Home.
Josh,
No words are enough to say when you loose your mom, but may memories help you and your family during this time of loss. I am so sorry for your loss 🙏.
You Spell LOVE CATHY , that’s the best way to describe Her Or “Friend of Jesus” , She was a Good Friend to so Many , We will see you again someday CATHY !
I will always remember Cathy as a kind and peaceful woman of God. She demonstrated love and cheerfulness to all around her. Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers for God’s comfort.