Margaret Flynn O'Kane

Margaret “Margie” (nee Flynn), of Berwyn, PA, formerly of Wayne, PA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1st, surrounded by her children, after a valiant two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Margie was born in Philadelphia, PA, on September 25th, 1953, the third child of Joseph Daniel Flynn and Margaret Sullivan Flynn. She was raised in Springfield, PA, and later in Radnor, PA, graduating from Radnor High School in 1971.

Margie is preceded in death by her husband, Chuck, with whom she shared 33 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter, Kristen Baker (Matt); her son, Chad O’Kane (Laura); her son, Dan O’Kane (Tania); her cherished grandchildren - Jay, Nate, Drew, Regan, and Connor; her brothers Joe and Tom; her sister, Kathy; and many cousins and extended family.

Even in her earliest days, Margie had many well-known quirks. In grade school, she refused to wear the traditional Catholic school uniform because it was “too itchy.” So her mother, ever the accommodator, sewed her a more comfortable version. She had many sayings and an outlook on life that could only be described as uniquely Margie. She was also remarkably generous, sometimes to a fault, always eager to create memories for others and to put family first. She loved her sweets; a well-balanced breakfast for Margie often included a Tastycake and a Diet Coke.

Volunteer extraordinaire from her earliest days of motherhood, Margie was always involved. Den Mother; Girl Scout Troop Leader; Home Room Mother; field trip chaperone; fixture on the sidelines of myriad soccer, basketball, and baseball games; unpaid chauffeur to her kids for countless activities. This list goes on. Well known around Wayne from her years at Wayne Sporting Goods, many of her children's friends remember stopping in after school and seeing her behind the counter. She did it all, first in her 1978 rusty, powder blue station wagon; then in her Plymouth Grand Voyager minivan, the first (and only) new car she ever owned. She was so proud of that van.

Thrower of epic Christmas parties, Margie brought together two large Irish families, as well as countless friends who were considered an extension of her Irish clan. Fiercely loyal, nothing was more important than family. While the guest list grew larger every year, their modest home never felt crowded. She served the same tried-and-true dishes year after year on paper plates, but it never got old; in fact, a change of menu might have caused a mini revolt. No one ever left her parties undernourished. And while they may have lacked grandeur, they overflowed with good stories, joy, and laughter. It was intimate. It was simple. It was fun. It was, in a nutshell, Margie.

Friends and family are invited to one final Margie party - “Christmas in July” - on Saturday, July 11th, at 2pm at the Italian-American Club (IAC), located at 301 West Wayne Avenue, in Wayne, PA. An opportunity to share stories and laughter, and celebrate a life well lived.