SISTER MARY GRACE FLYNN, VHM
Sister Mary Grace Myriam Flynn, VHM, member of the Mount de Chantal community of Sisters of the Visitation since 1945, died Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at Mount de Chantal. She was 81. Born in Wheeling, she was the daughter of the late James and Frances Gilligan Flynn and was also preceded in death by her sister Lenore Flynn Griffith.
A 1944 graduate of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, she received a bachelor’s degree in education from Duquesne University, a master’s degree in library science from The Catholic University of America, and Montessori Teacher Certification from the Michigan Montessori School.
Her service at Mount de Chantal included librarian and teacher of English, Latin, and religion in the academy; teacher and director in the Mount Montessori program; dormitory counselor; member of the academy Board of Trustees from 1975 to 2005; and directress of the formation program for the community of Visitation Sisters. Between 1974 and 2000, she was elected and served six terms of three years as superior of the community. In service to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston she was a vice-president of the Diocesan Council of Sisters and a member of numerous committees. From 1984 to 1996 she was a councilor of the Second Federation of the Visitation Order in the United States. This federation includes communities and schools in the Dioceses of Washington, DC, St. Louis MO, Minneapolis-St. Paul MN, Brooklyn NY and Wheeling-Charleston.
With Sister Mary Loyola Lynn, VHM, Sister Mary Grace compiled an index published in 1968 of works in English by Saint Francis de Sales, cofounder of the Visitation Order. In 2007 she prepared a compilation entitled Select Salesian Subjects published by De Sales Resources and Ministries of Stella Niagara, New York.
Sister Mary Grace is survived by a niece, Mimi Griffith, and three nephews, John, James and Andrew Griffith, and their families.
Friends will be received in the Mount de Chantal chapel, 410 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, on Friday, January 9th from noon until 6:00 pm and on Saturday, January 10th from 11:00 am until 1:30 pm when a funeral Mass will be celebrated in the chapel with Father Walter Buckius, SJ, as main celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Visitation, 410 Washington Avenue, Wheeling WV 26003.
Arrangements are by Altmeyer Funeral Home, Wheeling.
Dear Mount Friends and Family of Sr. Mary Grace,
I am so sad to see this wonderful person leave us. One of my strongest memories is living in the alcove directly across from hers in the “big dorm.” She blessed us every night, gently reminded us to sleep, and then gently awakened us in the morning. I learned a lot from her — in the classroom and outside of it.
Please accept my deepest sympathies on this loss to the small Mount community and to Sr. Mary Grace’s family.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Sorensen
Class of ’66
Dear Sisters of the Mount, and family of Sr. Mary Grace,
I was sorry to learn of Sr. Mary Grace’s death. The Mount has been on my mind so often since the Academy closed. Sr. Mary Grace was part of my wonderful Mount experience, and I echo the thoughts of the other writers: she was kind, gentle, and displayed grace to the students.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ginger Karb, class of 1966
How terribly sad I am to hear of Sr Mary Grace’s passing. She truly exemplified the name “Grace”. I was even thinking of her today when I saw a book on Pompeii at the bookstore recalling our Latin lessons. My condolences to all who knew her.
I became Sister Mary Grace’s “very best little girl friend” when I arrived at the Mount in the fall of 1943 as a fifth grader and she was a senior. She took my sister and me under her wing and made our first year at the Mount that much easier as two little girls far from home. And thus we remained friends for 65 years. She and Sister Catherine Marie spent some time with me in Michigan in the early 70s when the Mount was preparing to open a Montessori School. The fun we had and how my children adored them! Sister Mary Grace embodied for me all those wonderful attributes of the Visitation nun—her innate goodness, kindness, spirituality, common sense and good counsel. I shall miss her physical presence but know that I have a new friend and angel in Heaven. God bless you, my dear, dear friend.
I had the opportunity to meet Sister Mary Grace in May 2008. Through genealogy research, I found an unknown cousin who shared many wonderful stories with me. She was a joy to converse with and always happy to help me with the family history.
I have many fond memories of Sister Mary Grace both as a teacher and as a person. She was always smiling and always glad to see you. My concolences to both her family and to the Visitation Community in Wheeling.
Class of 1963
I was saddened to learn that Sister Mary Grace passed. I feel fortunate to have known her and extend my condolences to the Sisters at Mount de Chantal and to her family.
I was touched by your warm smile, gentle spirit, and kind heart. Thank you for helping to make my experience at the Mount so memorable. You were truly a remarkable woman! My deepest sympathies to Sister’s family and the Sisters of Mount de Chantal.
Love, Jennifer
My deepest and most sincere sympathies are extended to Sister Mary Grace’s familiy, and, to the Sisters of the Visitation.
Sister Mary Grace always wore a warm, welcoming smile!
She was a kind, gentle, thoughtful, bright, blessed woman. A true inspiration to and great role model for all.
She will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with all.
Suzanne Belot Norton
Class of ’76
My heartfelt condolences to the Mount Sisters and Family of Sister Mary Grace: She was a cheerful, gentle and kind soul. I remember her in the dorm trying so sweetly for us to turn out the lights and get a good night’s rest. She succeeded. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Seven years ago I prayed for a spiritual director and Our Dear Lord answered more graciously than I could have ever imagined! Sr. Mary Grace said she would prefer to be thought of as my spiritual friend rather than director but she became so much more. We were kindred spirits.
After hundreds of e-mails, what a joy to discover that Sr. Mary Grace would be in Florida and could come stay with us for one precious day! We could meet face to face! We chuckled together later, as we learned of the other sistersâÄô concern, as the hour of our scheduled return of Sr. Mary Grace came and went, worried if our family had kidnapped her.
Two years ago, my dear husband offered a trip to Mount de Chantal, to celebrate our 15th anniversary! For a second time I, and my family, were able to spend precious time together with Sr. Mary Grace! We were blessed with meeting the other sisters and seeing her beloved Mount de Chantal. We shared tears as our time together came too quickly to an end.Two more years we were able to share and now again the tears as once again our time together has come too quickly to an end.
Dearest Sr. Mary Grace, I pray Our Dear Lord is holding you tightly in His loving embrace! Love, Monica
She was a gem and friend to all who passed through the Mount’s doors.
May she rest in well deserved peace.
Katie Crosbie
Sister Mary Grace embodies the spirit of Mount de Chantel…she led by example and showed us what a purposeful life serving Christ can help others achieve.
Friend…Denise
Sister Mary Grace was a gentle loving soul, and she always remembered my name, never forgetting long-ago students. She is greatly missed.
Sister Mary Grace was a wonderful woman who was an inspiration to so many of us Mount girls. She will be dearly missed. I will always remember her kindness and her gentle spirit. The world is blessed to have had her living in it.
With my deepest sympathy,
Bernadette M. Day
Class of ’92
Pickerington, OH
Sister Mary Grace was such a sweet and wonderful person. I remember her kindness to me when I was a student in her English class. Thirty years later when my daughter was a Mount student, she was equally as kind to her. We were both saddened to hear the news that this wonderful sweet lady has passed on. Please accept our sincere sympathy .
Sisters and Flynn Family,
I always thought Sister Mary Grace’s second name fit her so well. Everything she did and said had a gentle class and grace about. She was patient, sweet, kind, trusting and loving. Always thinking of our school and others above herself, she was an example to all of us. I will miss her presence here on Earth, but Heaven has gained a wonderful new angel.
Sisters of Visitation and Mimi,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. We have lost a wonderful woman whose kindness pervaded everything she did and everyone with whom she came in contact.
Unfortunately, my car is not reliable and I am not using it; otherwise, I would be there in person to share my sympathy.
Rosemary Front
Sr. Mary Grace always had a warm smile in the halls of Mount de Chantal. I always enjoyed talking to her and hearing the stories she had to tell about the Mount – especially the ghost stories! She will certainly be missed. May God welcome such a deserved woman into His Kingdon.
Sr. Mary Grace was a wonderful person, teacher and friend! I will miss her but have many fond memories to carry with me.
Heather
Sr. Mary Grace will always in my memories and heart. Thank you for all the lessons, ghost stories, smiles, and hugs that you shared with me during my years at the mount. Every time I walk in to a library I think of you.
-Vanessa
Sympathy is extended to the Griffith Clan on the passing of your aunt, Sister Mary Grace, who was especially kind to me and also my sister Linda Stumpp Tuttle, during and after her time at the Mount. Linda stayed with Sister Mary Grace at the Mount in 2007 when my mother, Nan Stumpp, was at Peterson in hospice care. I was sorry to hear that your mother had also passed – I often tell the story of her fixing lasagna at Thanksgiving as a way of giving thanks that she did not have to cook a turkey! My best to Diamond James Flynn – tell him to call me or email. With sympathy,
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the life of Sister Mary Grace Flynn! How thoroughly and naturally she manifested Your love! Love and prayers to Sister’s family and to our dear Sisters at Mount de Chantal
to one great lady .your teachings are with me everyday. our small writing classes were beyond compair.all your tutoring was shared with my children as well . so, you live on in all of us.
To the Flynn family and the Sisters of Mount de Chantal, I offer my deepest sympathies. Sister Mary Grace was a wonderful woman.
Thank you, Sister Mary Grace, for all of your smiles, hugs, and understanding, especially on the day you let us play on the playground instead of having Latin class because we were having a hard time sitting still! I am honored to have received the gift of your devotion to eduction and God. You will always be in my heart!
Love, Sarah
To the Mount Sisters and Sister Mary Grace’s family, I extend my deepest sympathies. I was a student of Sr Mary Grace’s and enjoyed her classes very much. She was also one of my dorm nuns as I was a boarder for 4 years. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you. Betsy Linder Golden Class of 1971
With Sympathy to the Sisters