Amelia S. (Salles) Flynn, 91, of South Dartmouth passed away, peacefully and with dignity, October 3, 2013, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers, MA.
For more than 68 years, Amy as she was known, was the beloved wife of the late Thomas H. Flynn, MD, who passed four months earlier on May 24, 2013.
She was born on January 5, 1922, in New Bedford, the second daughter of the late Frederick M. and Frances R. (Vetorino) Salles, and lived in South Dartmouth most of her life.
A graduate of New Bedford High School, Amy went on to hone her natural artistic talent at the Swain School of Design. For many years, Amy participated in a painting group which regularly gathered at picturesque locations along the South Coast. This was a time to enjoy good fellowship while refining painting skills in water color and oils. Amy's natural talent in art and design, qualified her as somewhat of an amateur architect. Throughout her adult life, Amy enjoyed reading and learning about about residential architecture and construction, and she renovated, designed, and built several homes. In later years, she was particularly proud to have been actively involved in the design and construction of their retirement home, with specific features, which allowed she and Tom, to safely remain at home as they enjoyed their last decade of life, in the neighborhood they loved for more than 50 years.
Amy enjoyed being busy. Before she married Tom on June 18, 1945, she worked at the Merchant's National Bank in New Bedford, was an accomplished pianist, trombonist and violinist and she developed her painting skills. During her years raising five children, she was affectionately known as the "Supply Sergeant" as she happily kept her family, friends and frequent visitors well provisioned, well cared for and headed in various directions. In between it all, she enjoyed sailing and was an avid tennis player. Together with her husband, children and friends she sailed on Buzzards Bay, around Cape Cod and the Islands and cruised the coast of Maine aboard their beloved sailboat, Brigid'O. During winter she'd pack the family station wagon with Tom, five kids and the family dog and she'd drive through the night, over snow covered roads, to enjoy family and friends on the crisp slopes of Mittersill and Cannon Mountain. Amy loved winter and snow... the more snow the merrier! She always found a snow storm to be an exciting adventure especially if friends and family were together to enjoy a warm fire and good companionship.
During retirement years, Amy and Tom spent 20 winters in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they enjoyed golf, boating and the fellowship of many friends.
Amy was active in many civic organizations in the Greater New Bedford community. She was a trustee of Friends Academy, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Luke's Hospital and an active member of the Wamsutta Club and the New Bedford Yacht Club.
Survivors include 3 sons, Thomas K. Flynn and his wife Ingrid of Newport, RI, John F. Flynn of Dartmouth and Paul M. Flynn and his wife Wendy of Essex, CT; 2 daughters, Amy F. Hood of Taunton and Nancy F. Siegal and her husband Henry of Hopkinton, MA; a sister, Louisa Senesac of Gainesville, FL; 5 grandchildren, Charles Siegal and his wife Meghan, David Siegal and his fiancée Ramsay Millie, Annie Pappenfort and her husband Graham, Alexandra Sowell and her husband David and Ellie Flynn; 7 great-grandchildren, Sally, Walter and Louisa Siegal, Henry and Frederick Pappenfort, Averie and Crosby Sowell; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the grandmother of the late Patrick Flynn and the sister of the late Mary Rita Cabral and Barbara Westgate.
Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 18th at 10 AM in St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth.