Martha J. Flanigan

DOVER PLAINS — Martha J. Flanigan, a resident of Dover Plains, entered into rest Dec. 6, 2011, at Sharon Health Care Center. She was 73.The daughter of the late Emma P. (Yeager) and Thomas James, she was born Feb. 8, 1938, in Hazelton, Pa.Martha was a graduate of Hazelton High School, class of 1955. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and went on to receive her master’s degree in special education from Columbia University in New York City. She worked as the director of education at the former Wassaic Developmental Center, retiring in March of 1991. It was while working in Wassaic that she met her future husband, Gordon Flanigan. They were married on June 27, 1969, at Immaculate Conception Church in Amenia by the Rev. Peter McKowen. Mr. Flanigan survives at home in Dover Plains.Martha was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church. She was a longtime lector at the Saturday evening Mass, where she read from her wheelchair. She was a member and former secretary for the Dover Chapter 576, OES.In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sisters-in-law, Ann Anderson and her husband, Melvin, of Ormond Beach, Fla., Nancy Monaghan of Ormond Beach and Patricia Monaghan of North Bangor, N.Y.; her niece, Lauren Rose Anderson of Ormond Beach; several cousins; her special friend of more than 40 years, Mary DeVito-Thomas and her husband, Charlie, of Dover Plains; as well as her dear friend and former neighbor, Cheryl D’Octavio of Apex, N.C.She was predeceased by her brother, Thomas James, in April 1967.Gordon would like to thank the staff at Sharon Health Care Center, especially the upper level unit, for their kindness and compassion as well as Bill and Shirley Diener for their daily evening phone calls.Memorial donations may be made in Martha’s name to Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund, PO Box 109, Amenia, NY 12501 or you may remember Martha with Mass cards.To send a personal condolence, go to www.StraubCatelanoHalvey.com.

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