A relative about whom I knew very little turned out to be the one everyone talked about when I began interviewing people for an oral history. I knew her picture and that she had 14 children, that's all. My brother Tom said she resembled the bride of Frankenstein with the stripe of hair on her head.
Mary Etta Cushing Flanagan, (1872-1937)
My Grandmother kept the framed picture of her on one of the bureaus in my Uncle Tom's room after he died. A copy of her mother's obituary in Rockland's Courier-Gazette told me about Mary Etta Cushing Flanagan.
I discovered it, like so many parts of the family history, after Grandma died. I grew up knowing I wasn't supposed to ask questions about the people in black and white pictures throughout the house.
Thanks to part of my interviewing, I caught a small error in the obituary. Auntie Rose said she was always told her maternal grandmother's last name was Breen, not Green.
The mistake made sense when I began working for a newspaper. It's easy to get names mixed up when talking to people in person or on the telephone.
Death of Well-Known Rockland Woman Prominent in Community Affairs
In the death of Mrs. John H. Flanagan, which occurred at her home on Willow Street Sunday morning this city loses one of its outstanding women, active, despite her unusual domestic affairs, in Rockland's civic, charitable and social affairs, over a long period of years.
The funeral services were conducted at St. Bernard's Church at 9 o'clock this morning with a requiem high Mass sung by Rev. Fr. Morrissey assisted by Rev. Fr. Drury and Rev. Fr. Young, Newman's Lead Kindly Light, and as a solo at the offertory "Domine Jesu," from Peitro Yon's
Mass were sung by Miss Lotte McLauhglin, a long time friend of the family. The bearers were Mrs. Flanagan's five surving sons, and her son-in-law. Eugene C. Rich of Camden. The interment was in the Catholic cemetery in Thomason.
Mrs. Flanagan had been in ill health for a long time and last May unerwent a surgical operation at Knox Hospital. A second operation was performed three weeks ago, but it was found to be futuilre, and the patient returned to her own home, where she patiently awaited the end.
The deceased was born Feb. 3, 1872, in Hingham, Mass., daughter of John W. and Mary (Green) Cushing
[the correct last name was Breen]
She attended Notre Dame Academy in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and she came 45 years ago to this city where she was married soon after to John H. Flanagan, a member of the post office force, who died four years ago the coming month. Of that union were born 14 children, 11 of whom are still living.
The care of this large family did not deter Mrs. Flanagan from engaging in activities which have meant so much to the people of Rockland. She was second president of the Parent-Teacher Association, and served in that capacity for 10 or more years, the Association under her leadership becoming the largest in the State. She inaugurated its chief activity. known as the milk fund and the providing of shoes for needy children. She became chairman of the principal committees of the Civic Committee which gave direct aid to borderline charitable cases in the time of the city's greatest distress, and headed the woman's divisions in the many activities which led up to the establishment of Community Park, the fine recreation field now owned by the city. She was a member of the executive board of the Community Building and was active in its work until her fatal illness intervened. The Red Cross Chapter, which she served in the capacity of vice president, also had ample cause for being gratified for her untiring labors. Mrs. Flanagan was a devoted member of St. Bernard's Church.
Her home was the scene of many happy social gatherings, incidental to the presence of such a large family, and none present was younger or happier than she. Her life was an inspiration to the many scores who had gathered beneath her roof-tree, and pardonable was her pride in the flock which grew up beneath her guidance to play such a conspicuous part in educational and athletic affairs. The family was probably without a parallel in the State.
Mrs. Flanagan is survived by five sons -- William, John (of Buffalo), James, Judson and Arthur; six daughters -- Mrs. Eugene C. Rich of Camden, Mrs. James Kent, Agnes, Alice and Rose Flanagan and Sister Mary Carol of St. Joseph's Convent in Deering; a sister, Miss Ida Cushing of Boston, three brothers, James Cushing of Marblehead, MAss., Arthur Cushing of Portland and William Cushing of Rockland.
