In memory of

Jean Flanagan

March 14, 1926 -  December 4, 2022

It is with profound sadness we announce the death of Yohanna "Jean" Flanagan. She passed away peacefully with her family at her side, at Oshawa General Hospital. Born and raised in Toronto, Jean was the eldest daughter of the late Margaret and Albert Baars.

She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 68 years, Edward Flanagan, and survived by seven loving children: Marguerite (Glenn), Johann (Paul), Terrance (Carol), John (Judy), Barbara (Real), Ralph (Grace) and Robert. She was a wonderful grandmother to 12, and great-grandmother to 13.

She was a dear sister to Margaret (Don), and to the late Albert (Darlene), and will be missed by her in-laws: Eileen Couch (Ted), the late Jack Flanagan (Ruth), Maurice Flanagan (Denise), and Frank Flanagan (Ann).

She will also be missed by her many nieces and nephews and many cherished friends.

Jean met her husband Edward over 70 years ago. Together they shared the adventure of raising seven children in their small East York bungalow. Jean assisted Ed with his electrical business, and shared his passion for the family cottage "The Ponderosa".

Family was her top priority. Jean was a devoted wife, a caring mother, and a splendid homemaker. She was a woman of many talents which included sewing dresses for the girls, knitting countless articles for her grandchildren, quilting for her family, making stained glass lamps, doing folk art, and cooking for many hungry mouths inside a very tiny kitchen! Jean could really do it all - though driving is one skill she never attempted to master.

The cottage is where Jean loved to entertain, grow vegetables, and show off her giant sunflowers. Flanagan family gatherings at the Ponderosa were in her blood. We'll never forget the laughter, good food, and fun at Jean's cottage corn roasts, Easter egg hunts, Thanksgiving potlucks - and OF COURSE - the famous Galbraith holiday parties!

Jean is lovingly remembered for her kindness, sense of humour, strong spirit, and beautiful smile. Her devotion to the family and our Dad was steadfast. She will be deeply missed.

The family would also like to thank her many kind and attentive caregivers at Traditions of Durham, and Oshawa General Hospital.

The cremation has taken place. A private service and interment will take place at a later date.

Guestbook 

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Patti Griffen (Friend)

Entered December 10, 2022 from Scarborough

It is with heartfelt sadness that Mom Jean has passed away. She will be forever in my heart and mind and I will miss her contagious smile, the stories and laughter (so much laughter) when visiting or speaking on the phone, her positivity and her heartfelt love. Little did I know meeting that Marguerite on our first day on the steps of U of T in 1974 would lead to a very dear close friendship, not only with Marg but the entire Flanagan clan and their families. I want to sincerely thank (Mom) for her being so welcoming, kind, the times we shared and all the wonderful memories made that I will treasure forever.
May you rest in peace Mom with Dad again, right by your side. Patti♥️

Real Eguchi (Son-in-law)

Entered December 11, 2022 from Toronto

Dear Yohanna Catharina (JEAN) Flanagan,

On December 4th we lost the family matriarch.

I am sad.

I have been blessed to have known you for over 42 years with 34 years as your son-in-law. I have been fortunate to be part of a wonderfully functional family that you created with Ed, and I feel very grateful for how your presence in my life has taught me the importance of acceptance, adaptation, non-violent communication, creative compromise and much more.

In these fractured times, these lessons are certainly critical to personal and planetary health and well-being.

Recently Barbara and I watched a documentary that featured the friendship of His Holiness the14th Dalai Lama and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They spoke about joy that is not dissociated from life with all its suffering and despair and embedded within complex socio-ecological systems that maintain potential for increasing equity and justice. You found peace, if not joy, in most of life's moments and I am lucky to have witnessed and participated in how you navigated life with grace.

I felt your equanimity.

In your last words to me, you said that I "turned out to be a good boy!" I am sure you often wondered and worried if I was going to get there given that I was married to one of your beloved daughters. I am not sure I have, but it was a parting gift to me to think that perhaps I have reached some key milestones in my personal healing journey. I am aware that at the time you could have been experiencing drug induced delirium to assist you with your breathing, but I shall assume not since I can never know.

Thank you for those words.

I feel understood.

By my estimate, you have been gifted with the presence of 47.75 children/ grandchildren, their partners and greatgrandchildren, all of with whom there was quite obvious reciprocated love. This is an amazing legacy that few can hope to leave.

There is a Harvard study that has been producing data for almost 80 years now. It included, in part, asking very ambitious students what their measures of success are over their lifetime. You can imagine what they thought when younger. A key conclusion from the participants later in life was that good relationships/ intimate connections are key to being happier and healthier.

With your family and friends, you embodied the essence of this critical finding.

By cultural standards, you lived a highly successful life and based on well-lived experience, you have shared your deep insights with so many of us.

Thank you Jean.

There is a rather large hole now in my heart, and of course Barbara’s too, that can never be filled. We find solace in believing that as our lives continue to evolve and grow larger, then the impact of that void will diminish, while never disappearing.

And beside that abyss sits the mountain of fond memories, raising our spirits, bringing a smile to our everyday.

I will miss you.

Your death has inspired me to consider my own mortal existence and eventual demise. So this past week, I secured a resting place for Barbara and I close to where you and Ed will be interred and very close to where my father and mother rest. I am deeply touched in pondering the likelihood of our eternal relationship of propinquity, and dare I say, perhaps one that is also spiritually founded as our bodies return in some form to mother earth

I feel wonderment and awe.

Godspeed Jean!

Love, Real

Tony Disomma (Family friend)

Entered December 13, 2022 from Toronto

What a wonderful women, she be missed by family and friends.

Anna (Sister to Grace)

Entered December 13, 2022 from Whitby

Jean was such a beautiful soul, fiercely proud of her lovely family and always a heartfelt warmth and smile whenever I saw her. You will be missed Jean 🙏🏻💔

Margaret Hardy and Theresa (Sister and Niece)

Entered December 14, 2022 from Kingston

So sorry to hear of Jean's passing. We loved to visit the house when the kids where young for a Christmas get together. (The secret stairway was so cool - Theresa).

We will miss her dearly.

Marg and Theresa

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