Published December 7, 2018
MELROSE — Joan Maher Flynn, 85, went to her true home with the Lord on December 1, 2018.
Joan was born on March 20, 1933 to Canadian immigrants who settled in Greenwood; Joan was the thirteenth of their fourteen children. Joan attended Greenwood School and then graduated from Wakefield High School. She was a nursing student before marrying her beloved husband, the late Paul E. Flynn, with whom she raised four children: Deirdre Flynn, wife of Thomas O’Reilly; Joanna DeStefanis, wife of William; Paul Flynn, husband of Patricia; and Thomas Flynn husband of Erin. Joan was a devoted grandmother to Michael, Rory, Alex, Amy, Flynn, Liam, Annie and Emmet; and great-grandmother of Keira, Owen and Daphne.
Joan worked as a sales associate at the Shoe String in Stoneham and volunteered at the Stoneham Senior Center. Joan was a voracious reader, expert crossword solver, talented chef, and skilled seamstress and quilter. Joan loved classical music, especially Beethoven, was politically keen and had a wonderful sense of humor and radiant smile. Above all, Joan was a loving and supportive daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend; she will be dearly missed.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 6 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Gately Funeral Home in Melrose. On Friday, December 7, Joan will be laid to rest in a Mass of Christian Burial at St Patrick Parish in Stoneham at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Joan’s family requests that donations are directed to The Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.
To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
