Edward P. "Ted" Flanagan, Jr., 74, a resident of Methuen, Mass., passed away at the Nevins Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Methuen on March 14 after a long illness.
Born in Lawrence, Mass., Ted was a graduate of St. Rita's Grammar School and Central Catholic High School both in Lawrence, and Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. He worked for many years as a computer programmer and analyst for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as several private companies. A veteran of the United States Air Force Reserve, Ted was an avid sports fan and a great supporter of local sports, having volunteered as a youth sports coach for many years. He enjoyed running, especially in his younger days, as well as walking. He liked playing golf and watching it on television. Ted traveled throughout North America and Europe and also loved to camp locally with his family. After retiring, he kept busy as a limousine driver because he enjoyed meeting many different people. Ted’s greatest joy was spending time with his six grandchildren.
The son of the late Edward P. Flanagan, Sr. and Airris (Rooney) Flanagan, Ted is survived by his devoted wife of 51 years Helen (Christakos) Flanagan; children Kelly Martin and her husband Jay of Bradford, Mass., and their children Alexander and Victoria; Christopher Flanagan of Reading, Mass., and his sons Ryan and Kyle; and Timothy Flanagan and his wife Karen of Windham, N.H., and their children Emily and Jack. Ted also is survived by his sister Sheila Gagnon and her husband James of Chesterfield, Va.; his brother Kevin Flanagan and his wife Suzanne of Reading, Mass.; brothers-in-law Peter Christakos and his wife Karen of Pensacola, Fla.; and Christos Christakos of Methuen, Mass. He also is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Ted was predeceased by his sister Sharon Flanagan Kelleher as well as his sister-in-law Carol Christakos. Ted's family would like to thank the dedicated and loving family of caregivers at the Nevins Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre and also the Compassionate Care Hospice.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury St., Lawrence, Mass. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 20, 2014, at 11 a.m. in St. Monica's Church, 212 Lawrence St., Methuen, Mass. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery, also in Methuen. Memorial contributions may be made in Ted's memory to either Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA, 02481 (www.curealz.org.) or to Nevins Family of Services, 10 Ingalls Ct., Methuen, MA, 01844. To send an online condolence or for more information, please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.