Obituary for
Joan (Cooke) Flannery
Acton – Joan (Cooke) Flannery, mother of seven and bookkeeper for the John J. Flannery Construction Company, passed on Friday, February 16, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Somerville on June 18, 1931 to the late Gladys and Albert Cooke, she spent most of her life in Acton. Joan graduated from Acton High School Class of 1949. She played field hockey and basketball in high school and was the first coach for Acton’s junior high girls' basketball team.
An avid supporter of Acton-Boxborough sports, Joan served as President of the Little League, operated the concession stand at Kingsley Field for several years, and was a member of the Monday Night Quarterbacks. She was always present at activities for her children and grandchildren including football, basketball, baseball, field hockey, lacrosse games, and softball games and if she didn’t have someone playing then she was watching her children and grandchildren on cheerleading squads. She ended up coaching cheerleading after her children graduated so other girls would have the chance to experience being a cheerleader. Joan loved spending time with the family in Ogunquit, Maine and enjoyed annual trips to Bermuda with family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Edward “Bud” Flannery; her children, Barbara Smith, Sherri Hodgson and her husband Mark, Debbie Dionne and her husband Ribby, John Flannery and his wife Vickie, Richie Flannery and his wife Kathy, Eddie Flannery and his wife Tracey, Jan Flannery and her husband Joe Burk; 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Dyson Cooke, Myrna Watson, Barbara Robinson and Helen Cooke.
All are invited to visiting hours on Tuesday, Feb. 20th 4-8pm at Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave. (Rte 111) Acton. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Feb. 21st at 10am in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 89 Arlington Street, Acton, followed by burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Central Street, West Acton. Donations in memory of Joan may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 or to the America Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For obituary, directions or to leave a condolence please visit www.actonfuneralhome.com