Eleanor Flanagan

Eleanor L. Flanagan VIRGINIA BEACH - Eleanor Flanagan, baptized Leonora Maria Gracia Lepre, died July 5, 2010 after living life to the full for 96 years. She was born in Bronx, N.Y., of Italian immigrant parents, Ferdinando and Francesca Tarabella Lepre. She and her brother, Jack who predeceased her in 1978, felt a great love and gratitude for the city of New York and the education that it provided. Eleanor was graduated from Hunter College High School and Hunter College which are city-supported, merit-based institutions. She had majored in math and intended to teach in the public schools, but the Depression limited those opportunities. Instead, she became a private secretary to a society family and a tutor to their children. In 1940, she married William Matthias Flanagan, who was to have a flying career with TWA that spanned 30 years. They raised their family in Rockville Centre, N.Y., and had three sons: William Francis Flanagan of Lynn, Mass., an Air Force Academy graduate and career officer who died in February 2010; Paul Dennis Flanagan of Virginia Beach, a graduate of MIT and computer technology consultant; and Michael James Flanagan, of Evergreen, Colo., an Air Force Academy graduate and computer technology consultant. Eleanor considered her daughters-in-law to be daughters that she had never had and she will be missed by Barbara Conn Flanagan, Fabienne Hart Flanagan, Maureen McNamara Flanagan and Yvonne Mahon Flanagan. In 1972, Eleanor and Bill moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., and spent their retirement playing golf, serving their Catholic parish and enjoying many friends. Eleanor continued to live in Florida for two years after Bill's death in 1998, but moved to Virginia Beach in 2000. She spent the next 10 years living at First Colonial Inn. She felt herself blessed to know so many wonderful residents and staff and caregivers while there. Eleanor leaves behind seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Maureen Flanagan Cogan and her husband Kenneth Cogan and their children, Devon (13) and Keara (11) of Columbia, Md.; Anthony Flanagan and his wife Amy Flanagan and their sons, Sawyer (10) and Shea (8) of Milton, Mass.; Mark Flanagan and his wife Deanna Flanagan and daughters Ariana (9), and Maura (6) of Simpsonville, S.C.; Erin Flanagan Dempsey and her husband, Joshua Dempsey and their newborn son Hayden of St. Helena, Calif.; Gregory Flanagan of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; William Flanagan (20) and Desiree Flanagan (17) both of Lynn, Mass. Eleanor enjoyed ceramics, her church and was an inspired shopper, but found her greatest pleasure in her family and friends. She will be greatly missed. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, July 9, at Church of the Ascension Catholic Church, 4853 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach with Father Thomas Quinlan officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday, July 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5792 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.altmeyer.com.