Bridget Flannery

Bridget Flannery (nee McGovern) passed from this life on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Country Meadows Retirement Community in Frederick, MD.
Bridget, who was known to family and friends as Bridie, was born on December 16, 1935, in Holywood, Northern Ireland. She was the last remaining sibling of the three children born to the late Peter McGovern and Catherine Short McGovern. She grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in 1957. Bridget obtained her U.S. citizenship in August 1964.
Immediately upon arrival in the States, Bridget found work as a secretary with Textile Banking Company, New York. It was there that she met her future husband, Joseph James Flannery. They were married in November 1960, and Bridget became a homemaker with the birth of her first child in 1962.
Bridget and Joseph moved their growing family to Jackson, NJ, in November of 1967. When her youngest child was in high school, she began working for McGraw Hill, Hightstown, NJ, and retired from the company in 2000. For the past several years, Bridget has resided with her oldest daughter and family in Frederick, MD.
Growing up, Bridget attended Catholic school and completed the necessary coursework for her certificate. However, it was not deemed the equivalent of an American high school diploma. She enrolled in Jackson Memorial High School's adult education program in the fall of 1987 and graduated the following spring with her high school diploma, having tested out of most subjects.
Bridget enjoyed reading, whether it be the daily newspaper or a novel. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting sweaters and blankets for her family. She was a mother who would do anything for her five girls. Her greatest joy, however, was spending time with her seven grandchildren who affectionately called her "Granny."
A devout Catholic, Bridget was an active communicant of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Jackson, NJ for 50 years. Prior to coming to the States, her family's parish was Holy Cross in Belfast, and she was a parishioner of the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in the Bronx. She attended Mass at St. John the Evangelist while living in Frederick.
Left to cherish her memory are daughters, Catherine Menzel (husband Michael), Mary Reilly, Helen Swanic, Patricia Schwark (husband Timothy); son-in-law, Kevin Ferry; and grandchildren, Michael, Shannon (fiancé Omar), Rachael (husband Imad), Meaghan (fiancé Kyle), Emily, John and Christopher. She was predeceased in death by her husband, Joseph, daughter, Bridget Ferry; sons-in-law, John Reilly and Thomas Swanic; brother, Peter McGovern; and sister, Patricia Slot McGovern; sister-in-law, Marian McGovern; and brother-in-law, Ard Slot.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank special friend, Joann King, who helped care for Bridget the last seven years of her life. They also thank the staff of Country Meadow's Connections Unit who took care of Bridget during her final three months.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her visitation from 9-10 AM with her funeral service at 10 AM on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the GEORGE S. HASSLER FUNERAL HOME, 980 Bennetts Mills Rd., Jackson, NJ. Interment will follow in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, 1 Honey Locust Dr., Lakewood Twp., NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bridget's memory to Alzheimer's NJ, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068 or the American Cancer Society, 2310 Rd. 34, Suite 1D, Manasquan, NJ 08736, and would be greatly appreciated. For directions, further information and to send condolence messages to the family, please select the appropriate tab.