NATICK: Helen Julia (Hesek) Flynn, age 96, a lifelong resident of Natick, died at her home early Sunday morning, March 17, 2013. Married on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1940, she was the wife of the late Leo A. Flynn for 59 years.
Born in Johnstown, NY, on April 13, 1916, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Vavra) Hesek. Helen was a member of the Natick High School Class of 1933. Over the years she had been employed with the Winchell Shoe Factory, Dennison Mfg. Co., Horn and Short Shoe Co. and Smith, Miller & Hermer Shoe Company, the Co-op Supermarket, Walnut Hill School and the Murphy School in Natick.
Helen enjoyed volunteer work as well, particularly as a CCD teacher at Saint Patrick’s Church, a member of the Ladies’ Sodality, working with the Marian High School Mother’s Guild, and participating in book sales for the Morse Institute Library. She played the piano and loved music. She and her family looked forward to vacations at their log cabin in North New Portland, Maine, and Helen also traveled to New York, Florida, California, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. While in Europe she was able to visit her brother’s grave in Luxembourg, and relatives in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France, and Ireland. Helen also had the pleasure of cruising to Bermuda and Alaska.
Predeceased by Leo on April 27, 1999, and her grandson Christopher Bixby on January 14, 2009, she is survived by five sons, L. Daniel Flynn of Plainville, John “Pudge” Flynn of Dover, NH, Walter “Tico” Flynn of Natick, Joseph Flynn and his wife Mary of Wayland, and James Flynn and his wife Cheryl of Millis; three daughters, Patricia Bixby and her companion Larry Brooks of Wrentham, Maureen Lafauce of Framingham, and Virginia Flynn and her companion William Maguire of Millis; 17 grandchildren, Kevin, Michael, Erin, Jeffrey, Shannon, Colleen, Brian, Harrison, Sarah, Jake, Charlie, John, Brian, Carol, Jamie, Christopher, and Tyler; and 24 great-grandchildren, Alex, Joshua, Brian, Julia, Alyssa, Gracey, Matthew, Aidan, Sebastian, Grady, Jolee, Flynn, Cameron, Tony, Rowan, Jade, Jake, Alisha, Sydney, Asher, Cameron, Graham, Cora, and Kayla. She was also the mother-in law of the late Wayne Bixby and John Lafauce, and sister of the late Anna Morgan, Frank Hesek, John “Gubba” Hesek, and Richard Hesek.
Her funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Friday, Mar. 22nd at 9:00a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Patrick’s Church at 10:00a.m. Burial will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery, Natick.
Visiting hours will be on Thursday 3 – 8p.m. Donations may be made in Helen’s memory to the Elevator Fund at Saint Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760.