Annabel Midtbo Flynn (March 2, 1918-January 4, 2019)died peacefully at home on Friday January 4, 2019. She was a beloved parent, friend and neighbor. Her kind heart and thoughtfulness were widely known, and we hope that we can honor her by example as we move forward with life without her. Annabel was born in Sunset Park, Brooklyn to Norwegian (Arendal) parents Martha Nelson (b.1885) and Torje Midtbo (b.1879). She had two brothers, Harold and Earling. Married to Jerome Patrick Flynn in 1943, they had six children: Thomas (Ofelia Zuniga Rivas); Peggy (John Kelly); Dennis; John (d.1953); Anne (James Gottselig); and Peter (Sheila Pettersen); six grandchildren: Alyson Kelly (Kirk Bamford); Sereane Watkins-Flynn (Andrae Sanchez); Damion Watkins (Catherine Mer); Kathleen Kelly (Dave O’Connor); Flynn Gottselig; Sean Flynn; Sarah Flynn; and three great grandchildren: Jack and Annabel Bamford; and Margaret (Maggie) O’Connor. Annabel attended P.S. 169 graduating in 1932, and graduated from Manual Training High School in 1936. She completed her formal education at the YWCA Secretarial School in 1937. Annabel worked at Morgan Guaranty Trust from 1937-1946 where she met her future husband Jerome Patrick Flynn. They were married in 1943, and Annabel moved to the Flynn family home on 16th Street. In addition to raising her children, Annabel worked as a medical secretary for Holy Family Home from 1969-1993. She had fond memories of visits by Dr. Oliver Sachs who was conducting research there. Few New York residents spend an entire one hundred years living within a sixteen-block rectangle of this enormous city. Annabel’s stories of Brooklyn were extensive and detailed, and the Brooklyn Historical Society recorded a formal life history with her in May 2018. The family would like to extend special thanks to Jackie Cruz for over three decades of hair do’s and friendship; Dennis Flynn for his loyal weekend visits and companionship; and the dedicated home health aides (Adama Doumbaye and Rookmin Gittens) who cared for Annabel in the last years of her very long life. In lieu of flowers, donations on Annabel’s behalf can be made to: C.H.I.P.S. http://chipsonline.org/donate/ OR Trinity Lutheran Church https://www.trinitybrooklyn.org
Annabel will be waked at Duffy’s Funeral home Tuesday January 8, 2-5 & 7-9. Funeral service, Wednesday 11am at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18