Family members who were litigating over burial arrangements for former Cayuga County coroner William Farrell reached a settlement Thursday.

The funeral will be held at Holy Family Church on North Street in Auburn at a date to be determined.

The legal action was filed earlier this month by Farrell's two brothers, David, of 5394 West Lake Road, Fleming, and John, of 6048 Oakridge Road, Owasco, against Farrell's sister, Marjorie Nolan, of 2070 W. Corey Road, Venice Center. The siblings were contesting who had the power of attorney over Farrell's affairs and what his final wishes for burial arrangements were.

Before the settlement was reached, testimony continued in a hearing Thursday in front of Acting State Supreme Court Judge Mark Fandrich, who was charged with deciding the facts of the case.

Farrell, 80, died March 2 at Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Auburn. Farrell's remains were initially released to the Cayuga County coroner because of the family dispute before being transferred to a funeral home in Waterloo.

Meanwhile, another civil lawsuit involving the Farrell siblings is still pending. It was filed by Farrell's brother, John, and nephew, Fred, with the allegations that Nolan and another sister, Mary Burkholder, owe Farrell's estate $1 million from the proceeds of bonds worth $758,000 from an account with A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc., of Dewitt, and from money withdrawn from Farrell's bank accounts. The bond account is now frozen.

Farrell served as Cayuga County coroner from 1970 to 1990. He owned Farrell's Funeral Service, of 84 South St., Auburn, with his brother, Frederick Jr., who died in 1999. Farrell sold the business to Michael O'Gorman Aug. 16, 1995.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net