Anne Marie Cylkowski

Anne Marie (Flanagan) Cylkowski, 62, of West Granby, Connecticut passed away peacefully at home on September 26, 2023 surrounded by loved ones. Anne's strength of spirit and tenacity, as well as the expert care she received, helped her to outlast all expectations while battling cancer these past two years. Anne was born in Flushing, New York on December 20, 1960, the beloved daughter of the late Joseph. and Mary (Martin) Flanagan and grew up in Simsbury.
Anne is survived by her loving husband Ronald W. Cylkowski (Ron) who was by her side every moment of her illness. In fact, Anne and Ron spent all of their time together, whether it was working at their landscaping jobs, shopping for the latest deals at the supermarket, preparing delicious meals for family and friends, or recording the bears wandering through their yard. Anne is also survived by her daughter Nicole (Cylkowski) Stango and her husband Gary of Goshen. One of the greatest joys of Anne's life was being able to spend time with her grandson, Theodore Thomas Stango. Anne was predeceased by her sons Ronald E. Cylkowski and Thomas R. Cylkowski.
Anne will be greatly missed by her five siblings, and their families: Brian Flanagan and his daughter, Molly; Ken Flanagan and his wife Betsy, and their daughters Katie and Erin; Ray Flanagan and his wife Michelle, and their children Zack and Alexandra; Kathy Holland and her husband Jeff; Tim Flanagan and his sons Brandon, Ricardo, and Edson.
Anne was known as the sister who kept the family memories, sent news of childhood friends, and who cared so lovingly for her mother in the many years before her passing. She was also a favorite aunt who showed a keen interest in the lives of her nieces and nephews. She often showed up at family gatherings with bags of toys and other items for the youngest members of the family.
One of Anne's passions was gardening. Starting each spring, the family received regular updates on the indoor greenhouses she would set up in her living room. She was adept at growing the best vegetables which would end up in one of the many crock pots or dishes she brought to each family gathering. No one left Anne's house hungry or empty-handed. Anne looked forward to showing her prize-winning vegetables, flowers, and arrangements at the Riverton Fair every October.
Above all, Anne was known for her compassion and willingness to help others. She was the first to make a meal for someone in need, offer a ride to a doctor's appointment, or simply listen to the burdens of others. She did all of this with humility, never drawing attention to herself. Even in the face of many adversities in life, she never complained and always focused on the needs of others. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
While there will not be a formal service to commemorate Anne's life, the family appreciates your thoughts and prayers. We will be planning a Celebration of Life in the spring time and all are welcome.
If you would like to contribute to support Ron in paying medical costs, please visit the Go Fund Me created by Anne's lifelong friend, Sharon Golder, by visiting https://bit.ly/AnnesMemorialFund or, in lieu of flowers, donations in Anne's memory can be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at https://bit.ly/OvarianCancerDonation to help find the cure for Ovarian Cancer.
The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to all of the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff at UCONN and for the compassionate care Anne and family received from the entire hospice team at Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association.