John Flahive

Norwich - John Flahive of Norwich passed quietly into eternity March 7, 2026, at the Norwichtown Rehabilitation and Care Center. He was born in Ballylongford, County Kerry, Ireland to Martin and Mary Sweeney Flahive. John was married to Patricia Reardon in 1970.

He attended the local schools and spent time in Ireland working in farming and related businesses. He always recalled the beauty of that nature-regulated life which began, as he recounted, as dawning for day and ending early enough to enjoy the long twilight and the glory of the stars whose beauty was unhindered by the soft glow of candles and oil lamps emanating from his beloved village.

John was very involved in all the local parish committees and sports both as a participant and spectator, particularly Gaelic football and basketball. Other events were the annual Listowel Races and the Ballylongford Oyster Festival. And, always, the craic, that wonderful, spirited Irish gift of conversation on any topic imaginable, usually lengthy and punctuated by "to make a long story short." John was one of the best practitioners of it.

In 1964, at the age of thirty, John decided to emigrate to America, to the great city of New York, despite his father's concern about the President having been shot the year before. But emigrate he did, finding a home with his sister Maureen, her husband Joseph, and their daughter Patricia.

After two years of working in manufacturing, John felt a call to religious life and entered the society of St. Edmund at Ender's Island in Mystic. Time would tell that the religious brotherhood was not meant for him. Eventually, he met Patricia Reardon, a former Sister of Mercy, who would become his true "anam cara," the Irish word for soul friend. Together, they would become parents to Brendan and Mary, whose lives and accomplishments, especially in their choice of life partners and the beautiful families they have raised, have made their lives complete. And there are so many more who think of John as a second father.

John enjoyed every one of his twenty-two years working at Pfizer where he made many good friends. One day he brought home a purple seal point Siamese cat to whom his boss was allergic. For whatever reason, we named her El Gato, which was soon shortened to El. She was the first of at least twenty successors, the last of whom was our dear Bill. During this reign of cats, ironically after a flood, we rescued a Sheltie we named Bally. Bally quickly became a loving companion and friend to John.

John was an avid reader, especially of history and probably knew more about the history of Norwich than most of the natives.

He loved gardening and, every spring his tulip garden by the side of the road on East Town Street arrived to cheer up all of the winter-weary who passed by and that is exactly why he wanted it there.

Our annual Christmas and St Patrick's Day parties were a highlight of his year and a joy to all.

He enjoyed many years at the cottage in Dennis Port, Cape Cod and trips throughout the west, Hawaii, and Ireland to enjoy time with family. John was deeply centered in his Catholic faith and the life of St Peter and Paul parish. Beginning with Covid, he participated in Sunday mass via iPad from St. Patrick's Cathedral and it continued until his last Sunday. Mass was always followed by a much anticipated Facetime session with his nephew Robert in Ireland.

Always unruffled, when a really big problem arose, his answer was, "May the harm of the year go with it."

Left to cherish the memory of our beloved John, the man who thankfully came to America but never left Ireland are his wife Patricia; son Brendan John Flahive and his wife Katherine and their children, Reardon John Flahive, Rylan Flahive, and Julia Flahive; daughter Mary and her husband Steven Phipps and their children, Meaghan Phipps, Caitlin and her husband Michael Bradner and their children, Belva, Michael John, Daniel, and Henry, and Charles John Phipps and his fiancée Briana. His sisters, Nell O'Connell of Galway and Bridget Lynch of Kerry; his sister-in-law Susan Reardon-Lacy; his brother-in-law William Reardon and his wife Nancy of Middleborough, Mass.; cousins, Jimmy Keating and Helena Lacy, the Sweeney family in England, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Martin and Mary Flahive; in-laws, Henry and Mary Reardon; he was preceded in death by his brother Robert Flahive and his wife Eileen; his sister Maureen Lepichon and husband Joseph; brothers-in-law, Michael Reardon and Arthur Lacy.

John's family is eternally grateful to members of the staff at Norwichtown Rehabilitation and Care Center, as well as the residents and their families who, over the past three years, truly became family to us. You all helped to make an otherwise difficult journey a happy one.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Cummings-Gagne Funeral Home at 82 Cliff Street in Norwich. The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at St. Peter and Paul Church in Norwich.

In celebration of John's life, the family encourages the wearing of green or Aran knit.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen (20 Cliff Street in Norwich), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the charity of one's choice.