Elizabeth Hope Flanagan

FLANAGAN Elizabeth Hope Flanagan Elizabeth Hope Flanagan, November 26, 1978 - July 11, 2016, died at Casey House hospice on Monday morning after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Christopher Thomas, and sons Nathan James Flanagan and Liam Michael Flanagan; parents James F. Flanagan (Katherine Wells) and Kathleen D. Leopard (Lewis Leopard); sisters Amy Flanagan Risdal (Kevin Risdal) and Peggy Flanagan Donaldson (Justin Donaldson); and nephew Boden Christopher Donaldson. Elizabeth was born in Chicago. She attended elementary, middle and high school in Columbia, South Carolina and Tallahassee, Florida. She graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia and earned a master''s degree in international public health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. Elizabeth dedicated herself to improving maternal and fetal health in nations where families face the ravages of communicable diseases but lack the resources to prevent and treat illness. She worked for several years with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and completed her career at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases as a scientific program officer, overseeing scientific grants focused on HIV prevention research. Elizabeth was an accomplished professional and creative writer, and was especially proud to have the essay "The Caftan," about her cancer experience, published in The Washington Post Magazine "Mine" column. She was loved and admired by her family, co-workers and a wide variety of friends, including members of her online women''s networking group, the neighborhood book club, and The Lady Writers. Elizabeth''s family warmly thanks the wonderful, caring doctors, nurses and staff of Associates in Oncology, as well as Montgomery Hospice''s Casey House, for their care, counsel and great kindness. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at the De Vol Funeral Home, at 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland. A memorial service celebrating Elizabeth''s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, at 100 Welsh Park Drive, in Rockville, Maryland. Children are welcome at the service to express the joy and laughter that was such a part of Elizabeth''s gift to the world. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the World Wildlife Federation. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at the De Vol Funeral Home, at 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland. A memorial service celebrating Elizabeth''s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, at 100 Welsh Park Drive, in Rockville, Maryland. Children are welcome at the service to express the joy and laughter that was such a part of Elizabeth''s gift to the world. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the World Wildlife Federation.