Flora Duerschmidt Flanagan, of Florida, formerly of Riverhead, died Feb. 17, 2019. She was 88 years old.
Born in Milford, New Hampshire on April 30, 1930, she was the daughter to Elizabeth and Rudolph Duerschmidt. Her family moved to Riverhead when she was a child. She graduated from Riverhead High School in 1948.
Flora was married for over 25 years to Walter J. Flanagan, former Town of Riverhead Receiver of Taxes and retired Riverhead Town Police sergeant, until his death in November 1981. They raised a family of four children in Riverhead.
Prior to retiring to the Jupiter, Florida area to be near family, she managed the book department at McCabe’s on Main Street in Riverhead, was a stockbroker at Cowan and Company in Southampton, and worked in her younger years at LILCO. But the position Flora found the greatest joy in was teaching reading to middle school aged children in the Riverhead public school system.
“With a regal bearing and a beauty she maintained all her 88 years, Flora was the embodiment of a loving, supportive, empowering mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and friend – filled with wisdom, strength, independence, kindness, and grace,” her family said in a statement. She adored her children and grandchildren and gifted them years of her unconditional love, guidance, and support.
A gifted artist, Flora inspired in those she met, a deep appreciation of the beauty in nature – from skies to waterways, to various colors and shading; Flora shared her awe in the beauty she saw in her surroundings every day. She also inspired her family with her acceptance, tolerance, and appreciation of all people, and regularly brought joy with her gentleness, playfulness, and adoration for children, and her treasured puppy Flynn, her family said.
“Flora’s entire family is grateful for the blessing of having her influence in our lives. She leaves her beloved family with memories of her beautiful spirit; inspiration from words of wisdom that will long be echoed and passed on through generations; and snapshots of too many shared beautiful moments and experiences to count,” her family said.
She is survived by her children: Michael Flanagan, Patricia Burrows, Erin (Mark) Schimpf, and Kathleen (Steven) Grangard. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jordan Grangard, Gabriella Grangard, Colin Schimpf, and Scott Schimpf; by her sister Helen Cronin of Connecticut, her family through marriage Douglass and Shirley Grangard, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
At her request, Flora will be cremated and her ashes interred alongside her husband at St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead in a graveside memorial on August 9, 2019 at 11 a.m.
The family requests those wishing to honor Flora’s memory consider a tribute donation to Riverhead Free Library or Literacy Suffolk.
