Marguerite Flanagan

1921 - 2024

Marguerite Flanagan

October 9, 1921 - November 28, 2024

Beaufort, South Carolina - Marguerite E. "Peg" Flanagan, 103, passed into eternal peace on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at her home on Lady's Island. She is reunited with her devoted husband of nearly 74 years, Edward M. "Fly" Flanagan Jr., who passed in 2019. She carried her deep Catholic faith, Irish heritage, and loving commitment to her family all the days of her life.

Born to James and Mary (Moran) Farrell on October 9, 1921, she was raised in Kingston, NY, with her sister Marion and brother Jimmy. She attended the State Teachers College at New Paltz and taught kindergarten after graduation. It was love at first sight for West Point cadet Fly, and the pair were married December 26, 1945, after he returned from World War II. They first moved to Japan and would go on to relocate twenty times to posts across the country and in Germany and Korea during Fly's Army career. She gracefully navigated being an Army wife and was sometimes on her own with five children while Fly was called away by deployments. Following his last assignment to the Presidio of San Francisco, Fly bought their Lady's Island home without Peg seeing it first, and they moved to Beaufort in 1978. Dubbed "Parade Rest", the house was as perfect as he'd promised, and they enjoyed entertaining friends and family for countless parties and holidays. Peg taught herself to play guitar and ukulele, and she could often be heard playing songs from memory on the piano in the kitchen. A lifelong lover of animals, she delighted in watching the birds visiting her feeder from the large window there. While raising their kids and beyond, they had many family dogs (who always favored her) and even a parakeet who would sit on her shoulder. She had a green thumb, carefully tending to her orchids on the sun porch and many flowers in the yard. She was an avid tennis player into her late 70s and also loved reading mysteries, watching musicals, and besting her family at Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Affectionately known as "Peggy Friendly," she was a study in hospitality and kindness. She and Fly arrived early to mass at St. Peter's and Holy Cross Mission; this was partly so he could get the best parking spot, but mostly so she had ample time to chat and visit, taking special care to welcome those she thought needed a friend and a warm smile. When asked about her longevity, she said it was the love of her family that kept her going.

She leaves her children, E. Michael Flanagan III and wife Donna, Maureen A. McNeill and husband Dan, Terrence G. Flanagan and wife Cheryl, and twins Patricia M. Flanagan and Kathleen M. Flanagan and husband Benjamin; three grandchildren, Dan K. McNeill Jr. and wife Sarah, John Flanagan, and Alison Salisbury; and two great-grandchildren, Paige and Maeve McNeill. Her vivacious spirit, quick wit, and generous heart will be missed always. "When Irish eyes are smiling…they steal your heart away."

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Friday, December 27th at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Beaufort, SC, with a private inurnment at a later date at West Point. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Peter's Catholic School.