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Obituary: Marion Marcinowski Flanagan

Fri, Jul 1st 2022 09:35 am

Marion Marcinowski Flanagan, age 94, of Lewiston, New York, passed away on June 23, 2022, following a brief illness. She was beloved by family, friends, and many of her former Niagara Falls public schools students.

Marion was born May 18, 1928, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Anthony and Anna Marcinowski, the second child of five daughters and a son. Post-Depression, her family moved to Niagara Falls to benefit from its economic boom. 

After graduating from LaSalle High School, Marion married Sam Flanagan. They relished a deep and rich love for 50 years, until Sam passed away in 1996. Marion and Sam raised a family of six children.

Despite the demands of tending and corralling their large, lively household, Marion decided – as had Sam before her – to become a schoolteacher. Her vision set, she began college and earned a bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College, and a teaching certification. She then taught second grade at Cayuga Drive, Abbott and Maple Avenue elementary schools for more than 25 years. She earned a master’s degree and completed several hours of post-master’s work at Niagara University. 

Marion served for years as a volunteer entertainment events usher at Artpark in Lewiston. She relished traveling. Her adventures included: taking her two youngest children, Tim and Ann Marie, to Germany to visit with daughter, Kathy, and her then-U.S. Army husband, Bob; teaching English one summer to teenagers in Poland, the land of her ancestors; traveling to West Point with Sam to see cadet son, Tim, and to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia; going to Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada, to attend theatrical plays; visiting with U.S. Army son, Tim, and his wife, MiHui, in Seoul, Korea; cruising to Hawaii with Sam for their golden anniversary; and seeing Rome, Paris, Scotland, the western U.S., Alaska, and other fascinating places with her oldest sister, Joan.

In retirement, she enjoyed playing bridge with Lewiston friends. Marion was a long-time member of St. Peter R.C. Parish in Lewiston. At almost age 92, she confidently renewed her automobile driver license and still climbed atop her lawn tractor to mow her sprawling lawn, much to the wonderment of family, friends, and even some strangers. 

Marion’s family includes her two surviving sisters: Connie Sylvester (and husband, Tony) and Carol Mohler; six children: Jody, Kathy Burtner (Bob), Suzan Flanagan (Robert Moore), Mike, Tim (MiHui) and Ann Marie (John Barbone); 10 grandchildren: Betsy (Michael Schuurman), Katy Burtner, Nicole Flanagan-Morreale (Anthony Morreale), Rob Moore, Rachel Moore, Pat Moore, Sam Flanagan, Colleen Flanagan, Sean Flanagan and Isabella Barbone; two great-grandchildren: Eliot Schuurman and Anneke Schuurman; and many more dear relatives.

A private service was held for the immediate family.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.lanefuneralhome.com.

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