Elizabeth Clara Quinn

Early morning on Easter Sunday God called Elizabeth C. Quinn 91 of Flagler Beach to join Him in Paradise. Her journey was peaceful, and the Heavenly celebration was long awaited by her husband Thomas, son Tucker, sister Diana, and the family and friends who had gone before her.

She was born Elizabeth Clara to Johann and Mary Isaksen on December 9, 1932 in the Bronx, New York. She enjoyed her youth in the Bronx, often fighting from across the street with the boy who would later become her husband of 68 years. Summers on the farm upstate with her father and stepmother were spent swimming and horseback riding, and fostered her love for animals of all kinds. Her poodle Jangles, was her first beloved childhood pet, although there would be several (and I mean several) to follow. Cardinal Terence Cooke was her basketball coach and she would later name her second son after him. She graduated from Junior High School 60 in the Bronx, then attended Monroe High School where she was known for her “peaches and cream “complexion.

After watching him crooning and playing guitar at the local candy store, she forgot all about how much she disliked that Tommy Quinn and fell hopelessly in love. She married him in 1953 and had their first daughter Linda in Morocco, where he was stationed in the Airforce. Upon discharge, the small family moved to Hicksville, Long Island and soon three more children blessed the growing family.

She worked as a medical assistant to the local family doctor while in Hicksville. Later, after moving to Seaford, she began a longstanding real estate career with Coldwell Banker. Being strong willed and driven, as well as a skillful negotiator, made for quite a successful career in real estate.

The family was blessed to spend their summers in Montauk Point, which became a beloved getaway where the cares of the world seemed to melt away. She loved to host friends there. Many wonderful days were spent at the beach, clamming in the bay, picking mussels in the rocks out in front of the house, picking beach plums from Gin Beach and making jam, and steaming lobsters from Gosman’s Dock.

She was an avid late night reader of all kinds of fiction, with Steven King, James Patterson, and Dean Koontz being her favorites. Although she would read late into the night, she was far from an early riser. Each Saturday though, she was up at the crack of dawn, ready to hit the garage sale circuit to find hidden treasures. She would also always take her chances on Bingo and Silent Auctions, loving the thrill of winning the pot or taking home a prize.

She was competitive. If you ever got to sit at a scrabble board with her, you didn’t expect any mercy. Each game was required to have the official Webster’s Dictionary and a minute timer. Heaven help you if you went over your time. Strict rules were obeyed at all costs. She was the queen of triple word scores using the Q's and the X's in words no one had ever heard of, except Webster of course.

She was organized, knew where everything was. Versatile and innovative, she made good use of everything she kept around the house. Not everyone knew how crafty she was, often immersing herself into various new projects. Our home was filled with her creations including ceramic pasta bowls, macramé plant hangers, knitted blankets, foil and glass paintings, homemade potpourri, and shell art.

She was given the affectionate nickname “Gore Ma” by her grandchildren, as she would expose them to every scary movie ever made, whether they were ready for it or not. With all the kids white knuckling security blankets on the couch she’d say “Don’t worry, it’s just pretend. I’ll get the popcorn”.

A loyal fan of General Hospital, she watched the show for over 30 years and would never miss a night of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune over a cup of coffee with Dad after dinner.

Everyone that knew her knew she was the queen of accessorizing, a real “diva” of her day who could shop until she dropped.(Actually everyone else would drop before she ever did) Her earrings always matched her bag and shoes perfectly. Every outfit was meticulously coordinated head to toe before leaving the house. She enjoyed modeling for local fashion shows while living in Long Island.

Her love for animals of all kinds was unmatched. There was never a time that furry friends did not occupy our home. She helped our German Shepard Princess deliver 3 litters totaling 30 puppies. Kittens were always everywhere, along with hamsters and rabbits, and even snakes. A trip to Busch Gardens was always a delight for her, and she would constantly donate to every animal rescue fund out there. I had never heard of another family who had so many animals “just show up” without explanation in our driveway time and time again.

She and Tommy retired to Flagler Beach, Florida in 1986 where she took care of their parents. She was dedicated and loyal to her family and friends. She fiercely protected that which she loved. She was reliable, dependable, and consistent. She lived a long wonderful life, loving her family and watching them grow. Time with family was always her first priority, and as her time grew short, that time became even more precious to her. She had an unparalleled zest for life, never wanting to miss a moment. She is now survived by her three children Linda, Terence, and Kelly, six grandchildren Erin, Rosemarie, Patrick, Dylan, Kaylee, and Jai, and seven great grandchildren Claire, Hunter, Grant, Harper, Bridget, Joanna, and most recently Robyn who was born just four days before she was called Home.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Flagler Humane Society.

A celebration of life for Elizabeth will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Coastal Family Church, 208 6th Street South, Flagler Beach, Florida 32136 with a reception following. Following the celebration of life will be an urn placement at 1:00 PM at Flagler Memorial Gardens, 511 Old Kings Road South, Flagler Beach, Florida 32136.