Mary Nicola grew up in Newark, New Jersey, where her family owned a scrap metal business.
[2] In 1974 her older brother, William Nicola, was shot and killed during a robbery at the family business, leaving a widow and four children.
[3][4] Having worked as a substitute teacher and part-time bank teller,[1][3] in 1990 Farrar applied for the position of victims' advocate at the Somerset County District Attorney's Office, where she advocated for both child and adult victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and attempted homicide.
[5] Her duties included notifying victims' families, helping families understand the autopsy report, assisting with funeral arrangements, preparing them for the trial and sentencing procedures, being their spokeswoman for the reading of victim impact statements, and helping them disengage from the criminal justice system after the case was closed.
[2] In 2011 she received the Father Ken Czillinger Award from Parents of Murdered Children in recognition of her two decades of work as a victims' advocate.