Published July 17, 2020
ANDOVER — Heather Jean (Stewart) Flynn, 53, passed on June 22, 2020 at her home in Andover after a courageous 18 year battle with breast cancer.
Heather was born in Lynn on December 30, 1966 to Dale F. (Reilly) and R. Kendall Stewart. She graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1984. She earned a BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1994 where she also taught as an adjunct instructor in 1996.
Heather married Matthew J. Flynn on June 18, 1988 and they moved to Stoneham, Saugus, Beacon Hill and Melrose, before moving to Stoneham in 1994, where their daughter Vivian Kendall Flynn was born. Heather lived in Stoneham for more than 11 years, where she had her own studio and worked as a freelance illustrator for companies such as Fidelity Investments, State Street Global Advisors, Reebok, Stat, and New Balance, to name a few. Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.
Heather moved to Andover in 2005, and in 2015, despite her illness, she created the design and implementation of a home school program focused on autism. She wore many hats in this role over the next five years including teacher, administrator, accountant, advocate, and leader. As head of this program she assembled and led a team of highly skilled educational professionals and therapists who continue to work with Vivian to this day. Heather continued her work as a homeschool educator through May of 2020.
Her family writes: “Heather lived a vibrant and bright life. Her courage, perseverance, and strength were like no other. She was an inspiration to everyone she met, but especially to her family. She was a fierce advocate for others, especially her daughter Vivian, yet she lived her life with kindness and caring in spite of the personal challenges she faced.”
Heather is survived by her husband Matthew J. Flynn and daughter Vivian K. Flynn of Andover; mother and father Dale F. and R. Kendall (Ken) Stewart of Reading; her sisters Kathryn A. Hazel of Chelmsford and Emily F. Stewart of Medford.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, memorial services will be delayed until 2021. Our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, educator, researcher, artist, and friend will be remembered at a one-year memorial service planned for June of 2021 at a place to be determined. A memorial bench will be placed in Heather’s memory at the Ipswich River Park, 15 Central Street, North Reading, a favorite spot for a birdwatching and nature walks for Vivian, Heather, and Matt.
Friends and family who would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers are invited to celebrate Heather’s memory with a contribution to the memorial bench fund, which will help to ensure that the Ipswich River Park continues to be a safe, accessible, and enduring refuge for wildlife and nature lovers alike. Please visit ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/heather-stewart-flynn-memorial-bench ). If you would like to receive an email notification regarding the future memorial services, or more detail about the memorial bench, please send your preferred contact information to matt.flynn2005@gmail.com or go to the online tribute found at RobinsonFuneralHome.com
