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Shirley Esther Flynn
Date of Death: July 26, 2020
Date of Birth: July 17, 1928
Biography:
Shirley Esther Flynn—Auburn--Shirley Esther Flynn passed away peacefully on July 26, 2020 at Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, Maine after struggling with failing health. Shirley was born in Ellsworth, Maine on July 17, 1928, the daughter of Helen and Gardner Tibbetts. They had a good life in Maine, but an opportunity for Gardner and the family became available in Rhode Island and they relocated there sometime in the 1940's. Shirley graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in Rhode Island in 1947. After graduating, Shirley went on to attend the Katharine Gibbs Business School in Rhode Island, graduating in 1948. During the summers, Shirley became a lifeguard at the beach and so started her love for the deep blue sea. On August 19, 1950, Shirley married Edward Flynn and they chose to start a family. They had three sons, Gary, Jerry and Glenn. Opportunity for a better job for Eddie came along so the family moved to Sandwich, MA on Cape Cod in 1964. They built a home on Tupper Road and lived there many years. Shirley began work for Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Sandwich in May, 1972 and retired in July of 1991. She loved shopping in Hyannis and a cottage on Onset Island was her favorite summer retreat where her fondest memories were made teaching her three young sons boating and swimming. After Eddie passed away in December of 1999, Shirley lived on her own until 2006, at which time she moved to Gray, Maine to be closer to her sons and their families. Shirley's first residence after moving to Maine was in Appletree Village in Gray where she lived for twelve years and then moved to Montello Heights Assisted Living in Lewiston, Maine for eighteen months before moving to Clover Health Care. Shirley loved the water and swimming was her favorite thing to do. Her favorite color was blue like the sea. Eddie and Shirley traveled many places in and out of the country, and one of her favorite memories was being able to see the blue Glacier bear at the San Diego Zoo. Shirley loved animals, especially dogs, and her favorite TV program was Johhny Carson's late night show. Shirley was predeceased by her parents Helen and Gardner Tibbetts, her husband Edward Flynn, her son Jerry Wayne Flynn, her brother, Richard Tibbetts, and her sister Barbara H. Gustafson. She is survived by her son Gary Flynn and his wife Marilyn of Poland Spring, her son Glenn Flynn and his wife Lisa of Auburn, a grandson, Jeremy Chadwick Flynn of Bridgton, a granddaughter Bailey Page Flynn of Auburn and one great granddaughter Mattie Leigh Flynn. She is also survived by two nieces, Deborah Rowley of Greenville, Rhode Island and Maureen Gustafson of Barrington, Rhode Island and two nephews, James Flynn of Mystic Connecticut and Alan Gustafson of Gloucester, Rhode Island. We would like to thank all of the staff, caretakers, nurses, doctors and hospice associated who took such wonderful care of Shirley while at Clover Health Care and Androscoggin Hospice House. A memorial service will be held at a later date at The National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts where Shirley will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Eddie, a WWII veteran. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory may be made to Androscoggin Hospice House, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210.Â