Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Flynn

Mary Flynn, 87, of Niles, passed away at Hanson Hospice in Stevensville, Michigan on Sunday, January 27, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born on August 5, 1931, to the late Dennis and Veronica (Kelley) Bunbury.

On June 15, 1957, she married Thomas “Tom” Flynn, and to that union, four children were born.

Mary graduated from Michigan State University and went on to obtain her master’s degree in speech therapy from Columbia University in New York. She worked for a short time as a teacher until she started her family.

Mary was very involved in community service throughout her life. She was the founder of the PSI IOTA XI, Zeta Theta philanthropic sorority in Niles, which is very involved with speech, hearing, and literature educational services, as well as other community services.  She was a ski instructor and ski patroller at Swiss Valley in Jones, Michigan for over thirty years. She was on the first aid team at the University of Notre Dame during football season for thirty-five years, served on the board at the YMCA, Andrews University radio station, volunteered at Ronald McDonald Children’s room at Memorial Hospital, involved in the Niles Jaycee’s, Service League and the American Red Cross. Mary was a longtime member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Niles.

Mary loved to ski, travel, and spend time with her family and friends, she kept active playing tennis, swimming, scuba diving, riding bikes, she snorkeled in Hawaii and Australia well into her 70’s. Her travels took her all over the world; her last ski trip was taken in Austria when she was 75 years old. She sang for the Pope, with a group called the “Holy Notes” during one of her travels.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Tom in December of 1991 and her brother, John Bunbury.

Mary is survived by her children,  Daniel (Joni) Flynn, Martin (Kathy) Flynn, Jennifer (Thomas) Trillo and Katie (Robert) Havens; ten grandchildren, Timothy (Anne) Flynn, Mehgen (Cory) Bess, Thomas Flynn, Kelsey Trillo, Catilin Trillo, Molly Trillo, Elizabeth Trillo, Kylie Havens, Jessica (Bart) Crouch, and Josh (Maryanne) Pears; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather for a time of visitation on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. A rosary will be conducted at 3:00 p.m.

Memorial donations in her memory can be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 610 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601 or to the PSI IOTA XI, Zeta Theta Chapter at Fifth Third Bank, 322 Broadway Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles.