Lois Anne Flynn

Lois Anne (Stehle) Flynn was born on 6 January 1936 in Pittsburgh, PA to Ferdinand and Amelia (Linneman) Stehle, the youngest of 5 children. She was brought up in Pittsburgh, PA attended St. Augustine Grade School and graduated from Mt. Alvernia High School in Millvale in 1954.

In 1953 she met the love of her life, Joe Flynn, at a high school dance and started planning her future with him. As fate would have, Joe went off in 1955 to the Naval Academy, and plans were shelved for 4 years. During her many visits to Annapolis, she met several girls who were also engaged to Midshipmen and were planning to move closer to Annapolis. So, in1957 Lois moved to Falls Church, VA. to share an apartment with four of the girls and got a job working for the Department of the Air Force in the Pentagon. Within a year all five girls decided Falls Church was too far from the Mids and moved to Annapolis to reduce travel time to plan their future weddings. Lois secured a job working in Bancroft Hall and spent most afternoons from March thru June at the baseball diamond watching Joe during practices and games. Her roommates (Ona Truax, Shirley Billings, Gerry Findley and Mary Lous Hardin) all married their Mids and have been life-long friends. At 0830 the day after graduation in the Naval Academy Chapel Lois married her High School Sweetheart – the man she loved from the first time she met him.

Military life was a natural for Lois and after a year of separation during Joe’s first unaccompanied tour, she began planning a family and looking forward to future duty stations. She was also a natural at running the family as tours and moves took Lois and family to Quantico VA, Camp Pendleton CA, Kenitra Morocco, Monterey CA, Norfolk, VA, Washington DC and Annapolis, MD. During unannounced tours (Okinawa, Viet Nam, various ship deployments) Lois became both Father and Mother to six very busy and energetic children! She also managed to be a Teacher’s Aide at various schools during their early years and worked at the Refreshment Stand for high school football and lacrosse games.

Lois loved to have a good time and especially enjoyed entertaining children; so much so that she went to school to become a Professional Clown. As “Giggles the Clown” she supported numerous children’s birthday parties, school functions, and Naval Academy events. Giggles also had the privilege of working the Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the White House.

Lois was a devout Catholic, attended daily Mass whenever possible, served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years, providing Communion to new mothers at the Hospital Maternity Ward, supported numerous Church functions and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She also was a regular volunteer at Birthright of Annapolis for over 35 years, assisting in providing support for needy mothers and their babies.

For over 50 years Lois has been known as “The Angel Lady.” She has been providing blessed Angel Coins to people from all walks of life, countries and professions who she meets and feels could use a special Angel to watch over them. Her only regret was that she never recorded the many special and rewarding experiences she was blessed to have as results of Angel gifts!

Lois was the consummate collector. She was most proud of her collection of Angels; statures, figurines, wings and pictures-too many to count! She also collected Miniature Tea Sets, Christmas Pins and Brooches, Miniature Gas Lanterns, Miniature Milk Pitchers, Miniature Nativity Sets, Ceramic Rabbits and everything Mickey Mouse.

Lois thoroughly enjoyed yearly trips to Aruba, visiting her many Aruban friends and just chilling on the beach. She also loved trips to visit Mickey Mouse as well as cruise to European sites, especially Rome. On one tour to Rome and the Vatican, she was privileged to sit on the alter during the canonization of several Ugandanese Martyrs. During a subsequent visit, Pope Francis came down from his Popemobile, spoke to her and blessed her eyes. She repaid the Pontiff with a gift of one of her Angels.

Los was predeceased by her Father and Mother, her sister Dorothy Bodziac and brothers Bud, Earl and George Stehle. She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Joe and her six children (Joseph, wife Stephany of Annapolis, MD; Timothy, wife Tanya of Morgantown, WV; Gerianne Holl, husband Don of Cranberry Township, PA; Mary Patricia Suriano, husband Steve of Longs, SC; Patrick, wife Jennifer of Matthews, NC; and Daniel of Tavenier, FL) and 15 Grandchildren (Alex and Grace Flynn; Logan and Riley Flynn; Don, Beth, Thomas, Jake and Maragaret Holl; Nick, Amelia, Marissa and Mathew Suriano; and Gabriel and Samantha Flynn) plus Great Grandchildren Mila Suriano, Kent Suriano, Max Holl, Ivy Holl and Molly Wise.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 10:30 am in St John Neumann Church, 620 N Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD, 21401. Following the Memorial Mass, a reception will take place in Seelos Hall.