Joanna Flynn

Joanna Flynn, age 92 ½, known as Joanie, passed peacefully after a short illness on Tuesday, March 11, 2024. Joanna was the last born of twelve children at home in Jamaica, New York, on August 6, 1932, daughter of Rosalie Zalenski. She attended Woodrow Wilson High School where she won both a History Award and the Memorial Award for Character, Perseverance, and Industry. She worked in a bakery and then learned stenography and typing and quickly became an executive legal secretary. She met her husband, Thomas A. Flynn (known as Todd) and married November 17, 1956. They celebrated 68 years of marriage in 2024. They relocated to Old Bridge, New Jersey, where both welcomed son Thomas and daughter Jacqueline. They eventually moved to Stanhope, New Jersey. Once in New Jersey, Joanna raised her children and often volunteered as a room mother and at the local library. Eventually she was offered jobs at the municipal building and public school. She famously fought for getting better busing accommodations (closer and safer pickup and drop-offs) for her children attending St. Michael's School from the local school district. She baked profusely, and the household was blessed with one to two freshly baked goods as their nightly dessert. When her husband landed a work transfer to move to "the Friendly City," Cavalier, North Dakota, a few miles south of the Canadian border, Joanna convinced Todd to learn square dancing where they were part of the Tally-Ho Dancing Club. They transferred to Gahanna (near Columbus), Ohio, and eventually to Kissimmee (near Orlando), Florida. While in Kissimmee, Joanna returned to the job market working at Kissimmee Electrical Supply until she eventually retired permanently when her husband retired. Joanna and Todd moved to Sanford, Florida, before eventually moving to West Palm Beach, Florida. While in West Palm Beach, she lived with husband Todd in Century Village and eventually moved to an Assisted Living Facility. She enjoyed playing bingo, doing jigsaw puzzles, and bird watching along with keeping abreast of the events of the day. Son Thomas P. Flynn (and spouse Ellen Flynn) and daughter Jacqueline J Flynn (and spouse Larry A. Beck) survive Joanna. Joanna is also survived by three granddaughters, and five great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Todd Flynn, who passed away in December of 2024. Joanna will be memorialized at Palms West Funeral Home, 110 Business Park Way, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, on Wednesday, April 2. Visitation is from 10:30 am until 11:30 am followed by a service from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. The procession from the funeral home will follow where Joanna will be buried with her husband at South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 FL-7, Wellington, Florida, 33449, at 1:30 p.m.