Imelda Marie Flynn, SP
November 21, 1925 - February 21, 2013
Obituary
Imelda Marie Flynn, SP
(Name in Religion: Sister Alice Marie)
Sr. Imelda Flynn, SP, died on Thursday, February 21, 2013, at 1:45 p.m. at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA, at 87 years of age, after 67 years as a Sister of Providence. Vigil Service: Friday, March 8, 2013, 7:00 p.m., Mount St. Joseph, 12 W. 9th Avenue, Spokane, WA, followed by a reception. Funeral Mass: Saturday, March 9, 2013, 9:30 a.m., same location. Burial will follow the Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, WA. Cremation preceded the services. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, WA, is in charge of the arrangements. A Mass of remembrance will be offered at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
She was the fifth of eight children born to Aloysius Leo Flynn and Mary Sarah (Monahan) Flynn on November 21, 1925 at Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma, WA. She attended St. Leo’s Grade School in Tacoma, WA, and graduated from St. Joseph Academy, Sprague, WA in 1945.
She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Providence on January 18, 1946 in Seattle, WA, made her first profession on November 19, 1947, and her final vows on November 19, 1950.
Her academic accomplishments included: BA, College of Great Falls, MT, 1950 (now known as University of Great Falls); BA, Education, College of Great Falls, MT, 1956; MBA, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 1962; Standard General Life Teaching Certificate, 1962; and an MA, Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind, Western Michigan University, 1994. She did graduate work in physics and math at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO., and took CPE studies at St. Joseph Hospital, Tacoma, WA.
Her ministry assignments were chiefly in the field of teaching: In Montana: Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula; St. Raphael’s School, Glasgow; St. Francis Xavier School, Missoula; College of Great Falls; Principal, St. Peter and Paul School, Great Falls; St. Gerard School, Great Falls; Central Catholic High School, Butte; Ft. Belknap College, Harlem, and office manager & assistant to the principal, Loyola-Sacred Heart High School, Missoula. In Idaho: Providence Mary Immaculate School, DeSmet; St. Rita School, Kellogg; Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Wallace. In Washington: St. Joseph Academy, Sprague; DeSales High School, Walla Walla; Blanchet High School, Seattle; and Gonzaga Prep High School, Spokane. She was Director of a group home, Blain Activity Center, Inc., Harlem, MT. And she taught at Rancho Santiago College, Orange, CA.
She became vision-impaired in 1993 and became an Independent Living Specialist with the Washington School for the Blind in Vancouver, but did outreach to seven counties. In 1997, she moved to Spokane WA, and was a volunteer consultant for the visually impaired.
Her interests included writing poetry, keeping family history, swimming, sports, and hiking. She retired in 1993 in Spokane and later moved to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle, WA.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Roberta Harnetiaux, Maureen Flynn, and Antonella Fuchs and her brother, Alex Flynn and two other children who died after birth. She is survived by one sister, Alouez Linehan; brother-in-law, Neil Fuchs; sister-in-law, Carol Flynn; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
I attended Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula 1964-1968, and Sister Imelda Marie was there at the time. She is one of the fond memories I have, and wanted the family to know I was sorry to hear of her passing. I will keep you in my prayers.
Many fond memories of a wonderful woman! She was so loving and kind to all of us kids. She will be dearly missed here on earth.
I was honored to help Sr. Imelda with her physical, mental and spiritual needs while at SJR in Seattle. She had the most cheerful attitude and a great big smile EVERY day!!! I will miss my special friend, but know she’s in good hands now
Sister Imelda was my dear friend, as well as my relative. While we were raising our large, young family in Missoula Montana, she generously provided a listening ear, a guiding word of advice and a well-spring of faith and hope to our entire family. We were so privileged to have her loving presence in our lives. Imelda, It comforts me knowing you are ‘up there’ with Sis, Jack and Gladys and all the rest, praying for and loving all of us still on earth. Love is the way one stays alive after death, you gave Love and received it freely. Thank you.
Sr. Imelda was a so kind to us as kids and young adults. She was an example and role model for me. I loved her smile and her laugh.
Sister Alice Marie, as we knew her at Our Lourdes Academy in Wallace, ID, was the best teacher I had in all my years of school and a very dear friend after high school. Whether she was taking the bus to Kellogg to teach someone how to live independently due to near blindness, or joking with us when we visited her at the “Mount” in Spokane, she was always so happy and upbeat! We were able to celebrate her 50th Anniversary as a Sister of Providence a couple of days after the main celebration because, as she put it, she didn’t want to be inhibited in visiting with us due to so many family members present and visa/versa. So we brought a cake and celebrated in the dining room with her and other OLOLA former teachers. What fun! She was truly a delight and dear friend and I have already missed her so much since she retired to Seattle when she was no longer able to live alone.
Finding out about her passing in the Catholic paper today is a great sorrow, but I know she is happily seeing Her Lord and singing to Him in a voice she claimed she never had while here on earth. May God give her rest and peace (especially since she never seemed to rest while here!).
I didn’t have the honor to meet Sr. Imelda i wish i had. she was a cousin our family never knew we had. After reading all the wonderful things people have said about her. I can see why she was so loved by all. I know she’s doing good she’s in heaven with our lord and savior. and our family. I take comfort in that. She’s now watching over us all. Rest in Peace Sr. Imelda. I wish i could have met you.