Jane (nee Casey) Flynn peacefully passed away on January 20, 2025.  Jane was born on December 8, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois.  Jane was the second child to Mary and Robert Casey.  She attended St Clotilde elementary school and Mercy High School.  She loved to share stories of her growing up on the southside of Chicago.  Whether it was stealing a tomato from a victory garden, standing in a food line to hold her mother’s place during World War II, palling around with her best friend of 86 years (Jean Anne Kitteridge Mauer) her stories were colorful and adventurous.

Her senior year of high school Jane went on a blind date with Jack Flynn.  She said it was love at first sight.  They had a four-year courtship while Jane attended Nazareth College in Kalamazoo Michigan and Jack was at the University of Notre Dame.  Jane graduated in 1956 with a teaching degree with a primary education focus.  Jack and Jane were married August 4, 1956, at Christ the King church.  The Catholic Church would become the center of their life through their 33 years of marriage.

They welcomed their first child Sheila Marie while Jack was served in the Marine Corps.  Jane always said some of the happiest times of her life was living in Quantico, VA and Camp Lejeune, NC.  After Jack’s service they moved back to Chicago where their family continued to grow as they welcomed Ellen Therese, Michelle Ann, Daniel Jackson, Mary Patricia and John Robert and as a wonderful surprise a late in life pregnancy that ended in a still birth of their dear Ann Elizabeth.

After rearing children Jane entered the work force and began substitute teaching with the Chicago public school system which led to a full-time position as a Head Start educator.  Her teaching career would span 22 years.  Jane loved to help prepare these children as they entered their elementary education informative years.

During this time Jane welcomed her first grandchild in 1985 and would continue to embrace a total of 20 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and preceded by one great grandchild.  Jane was a true presence in their lives.  Whether it was adventures at Uncle Bob’s cottage, creating art, teaching them how to set a perfect dining table or baking her famous tea rolls.  She was a loving and supportive figure in their lives.

During a lifetime of the love of art Jane picked up the paint brushes to pursue a relationship with watercolors.  Lucky was the person to receive a painting from Jane.  Her favorite subject manners were religious figures or still life.  She was also an avid gardener, loving planting perennials and annuals to make a beautiful backyard for all to enjoy.

The center of Jane’s life was her Catholic faith which she passed on to her family.  Jane’s love of Jesus in the Eucharist and her devotion to Mary His mother was evident in her everyday life.  She was evangelical in her pursuit of bringing Christ into her children and grandchildren’s lives.  She loved praying the rosary and in her final days the family would gather around her bedside at 3 PM to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Jane is predeceased by her parents, husband Jack Flynn, sister Rita (George) Travers, brother Robert (Janute) Casey, sister-in-law Patricia (Richard) Mraz, daughter Ann Elizabeth, and great grandchild Jane Giger.

Jane is survived by her sister Marion Casey, children, Sheila (Edward) Dropcho, Ellen (Brian) Clayton, Michelle (Timothy) McElroy, Daniel (Mary) Flynn, Mary (Donald) Mahlke and John (Mary) Flynn.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Elizabeth (Matthew) Bastnagel, Edward (Ariel Tyring) Dropcho, Caroline Dropcho, Madeline (Andrew) Giger, Grace (Teddy) Hanson, Victoria Clayton, Bridget McElroy, Mary Elizabeth (Ben) Cesaretti, Timothy (fiancée Hannah Reese) McElroy, Jack (Megan) McElroy, Tony McElroy, Hannah Flynn, Michael Flynn, Robert Mahlke, Katherine (David) Highberger, Matthew Mahlke, Margaret Mahlke, Eleanor Flynn, Jackson Flynn and Anne Flynn.

Jane is also survived and preceded by her 9 great grandchildren Henry and William Bastnagel, Conor, Patrick and Greta Giger, Charles, George and Jackson Hanson and Ava Cesaretti.

Jane delivered the commencement address at her college graduation.  In the closing Jane said, “We shall go forth and do the best we can and leave it to God to decide what the measure of success be; we shall sow but the reaping we leave to His wisdom and love.”  In her abundant gratitude for her life, she always said “Give all glory to God.”

A funeral mass will be held Saturday January 25, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Church 124 N. Spring Ave LaGrange, Il.  Visitation will begin at 10a with mass following at 11a.  Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Il.  In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Missionaries of Charity.

For Service Info: 708-352-6500