Katie and Francis DiPerna (left) and Caitlin and Christian Farrell
College friends deliver baby boys on the same day
By Beth Eberth
Some might call it coincidence.
Katie (Meka) DiPerna calls it the Bonaventure circle of life.
After all, who would think that 16 years after Katie and her future roommate Caitlin (Curran) Farrell met on a hot summer day at St. Bonaventure the alumnae would give birth to baby boys on the same day. At the same Rochester hospital. Amid the terror and uncertainty of a global pandemic.
Caitlin and Katie, members of the Class of 2008, became friends at orientation the summer leading up to their freshman year in fall 2004. They now live about 10 minutes away from each other in Rochester and often double-date with their Bonaventure husbands – Peter Farrell, ’10, and Joey DiPerna, ’08 – and spend time with Bonaventure friends.
It didn’t take long for Katie, originally from Grand Island, and Caitlin, from Long Island, to become best friends. They lived together all four years at SBU.
Caitlin, dual certified in elementary and special education, is a special education teacher in the West Irondequoit School District.
Katie, an accounting major, graduated with a BBA in accounting and an MBA, and is a project manager at JPMorgan Chase.
Caitlin feels Bonaventure attracts a certain kind of person, one who values strong relationships and community.
“What I remember most fondly is spending a lot of time with our friends,” Caitlin said. Being seven hours from home, she spent a number of holidays at Katie’s house.
The friends couldn’t visit each other in the hospital due to COVID-19, but they were discharged at the same time and grabbed a quick photo.
“I felt like I had a family that was not my family,” she said.
“I just remember laughing so much with friends. It was a great carefree time, meeting new people and forming friendships,” Katie said.
Those friendships continue today. The alumnae have a strong core group of St. Bonaventure friends, with the seven of them getting together at least once a year to see everyone and check in.
“When you’re there you don’t realize how much Bonaventure is molding you – your friendships and for your career,” Katie said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the foundation Bonaventure gave me.”
After Bonaventure, Katie moved to New York City for a job, and she and Caitlin continued to remain close friends. Fast forward a few years. They both ended up dating, then marrying, Bonaventure guys, and moving to Rochester.
Months before the world would learn of a deadly new coronavirus, the couples learned they were both expecting babies.
“After telling Katie that Peter and I were expecting our first child in May, she later shared that she and Joey were also expecting her second baby, due in May. We couldn’t believe it, but our due dates were one day apart,” Caitlin said.
Katie was admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital Friday, May 8. Joey and Peter began a marathon of texts that evening that wouldn’t let up for the next 24 hours.
Caitlin was admitted to Strong the next day, May 9. It was the height of COVID, so as soon as the women were admitted to the hospital they couldn’t leave their rooms. Their husbands stayed in regular contact, though, texting each other with updates.
The Farrells’ son, Christian John, arrived first, at 3:12 p.m. May 9. Francis Thomas DiPerna would arrive a short time later, at 3:59 p.m. Both boys weighed in at 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Neither couple learned of their baby’s gender beforehand.
“If you would have told me freshman year that in 16 years you and Caitlin are going to have baby boys on the same day,” Katie said in disbelief. “The odds of it all are one in a million.”
Francis DiPerna (left) and Christian Farrell.
Caitlin said there was comfort in knowing that Katie and Joey were in the hospital room across the hall, even though they could not see them.
“I couldn’t have my family there. But I knew there was someone in the hospital who was next to family for us.” – Caitlin Farrell
Caitlin’s father, Bob Curran Jr., is a member of the Class of 1975, and she has one uncle and two cousins who are Bonnies.
Katie’s parents, Diane (O’Brien), ’82, and John, ’81, are alumni, as are her siblings Thomas, ’13, John, ’10, and Jennifer, ’07. Two of her parents’ siblings are Bonnies, two cousins attend SBU now, and her youngest sister, Emily, is a freshman. Emily was just 2 years old and watching “Finding Nemo” as the soon-to-be Bona BFFs were arranging their freshman dorm room.
“It’s the Bonaventure circle of life,” said Katie. “You are proud to be a part of that connection.”
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