Patricia and Derek Ward joint wake-funeral set next week

The family of Patricia Ward plans to hold a joint wake and funeral Mass next week for the slain Farmingdale State College educator and her son.

The wake will be held Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, 385 Main St. in Farmingdale.

The Mass will be said at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, 485 Conklin St. in Farmingdale.

Ward, 66, was killed Tuesday night by her son, who minutes later committed suicide by stepping in front of a Long Island Rail Road train, police said.

The son, Derek Ward, 35, had a history of mental illness, according to police.

Patricia Ward taught for 28 years in the college's Long Island Educational Opportunity Center, a state-funded academic and vocational program for disadvantaged students.