Obituary of Laura A (Costantini) Flanagan

Laura A. (Costantini) Flanagan died on Thursday June 20, 2013 from cancer at home surrounded by her loving family with support from Salmon VNA & Hospice. Laura was the loving wife of the late William J. Flanagan. Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Elisa (Fosco) Costantini. She was raised and educated in Lynn and graduated with Honors from Lynn Classical High School in 1943. She continued her education and graduated from Pierce Secretarial School in Boston. She began working at American Mutual Insurance Company in Boston, then Ruby Wines in Saugus as a secretary. Laura was the secretary of The Mass Parents Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing for 8 years while her husband was president. They both were instrumental along with the late Kevin Harrington, then president of The Mass State Senate in passing Bill 766 which helps all children with a handicap or disability receive a free college education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until the age of 23. She was secretary and member of the hospitality Committee of Beverly School for the Deaf P.T.A. for 12 years while her husband was president and she later volunteered at the BeverlySchool. She was treasurer of the Kiley Brothers Memorial School P.T.A. for 5 years. She was a life member of the Dante Alighieri Society of Mass, Peabody Historical Society, AARP in Peabody and Committee Member of Lynn Classical High School reunions. Surviving her are her children, Laureen Flanagan and her husband Ken Toleos of Peabody and Titusville, FL., Dr. William J. Flanagan Jr., and his wife Susan of Dudley, Kenneth Flanagan of North Reading, 5 grandchildren, Julie Waller and her husband Hamrick of Beverly, Barbara Vigorito and her husband Joseph of Fairfield, CT., Brian Flanagan of Los Angeles, CA, Joy Flanagan of Worcester and Caitlin Flanagan of Raleigh, NC, 4 great grandsons, Nathan, Joshua, Noah, and Justin Waller of Beverly and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Armida Gagnon. Her funeral service will be held on Monday June 24 at 11:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by her Funeral Mass at 12:00 Noon at St. Adelaide’s Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Pine St., Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Baker Fund for Breast Cancer Patients, MGH Development Office, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114.