FLANAGAN, Anna (Cawley)

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Death of Mrs. Flanagan.

Mrs. Anna Flanagan, wife of Richard Flanagan, died Thursday night June 25, at her home in Clark Township after an illness of nearly four months of pneu­monia. She was a native of Ireland, but had been a resident of Indiana for nearly forty years, first settling in Franklin County, this state. In 1876 she with her husband and children came to Johnson county settling in Clark Town­ship. At the time of her death she was sixty-five years old.

Deceased leaves a husband and six children, four sons and two daughters. These are John, Richard, Will, Edward, Kate and Mary.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at St. Johns, Indianapolis con­ducted by Father O’Brien.

Deceased was an estimable lady and leaves many friends.

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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, July 10, 1896,
Volume XXXVI Number 52, page 2 column 3

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OBITUARY.

Anna Cawley was born in Tuber­navine [sic], Parish of Adrigool, County Mayo, Ireland, Feb. 12, 1829. She was one of a family of eight children, whose parents were William and Mary Cawley.

Her childhood and youth were spent in her native parish where she attended the country or parish school, and was also a regular attendant at all the religious functions of the Catholic Church. She lived with her parents till she was twenty-one. Previous to this her elder brother, William Cawley, had emigrated to America. In 1850 Anna determined to follow. So she left the old home, crossed the ocean and made a new home with her brother in Franklin County, Indiana. Here she lived for six years, when in 1856 she was married to Richard Flanagan.

The young couple began house­keeping in Franklin County and continued to live there for nearly twenty years. During this time six children were born to them, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. In 1875 the family moved to Johnson County, which place has since been their home.

Mrs. Flanagan’s death occurred June 25, 1896, after a long and painful illness. She had been an invalid for many years, but her cheerfulness and fortitude in afflictions never failed her. Funeral services, conducted by Father O’Brien, were held at St. John’s church, Indianapolis, followed by interment in the Catholic cemetery of that city.

She was baptized into the Catholic Church in infancy and all her life was a life of devotion to its teachings and faith in its promises. She was an af­fectionate wife, a devoted mother and noble woman. A stronger and more beautiful Christian character could no­where be found. Her gentleness and sweetness of disposition endeared her to all and made her the idol of her family, who repaid her love for them with an unequaled devotion. Such characters make us realize that “we are born for a higher destiny than that of earth. There is a realm where the rainbow never fades, where the stars will be spread out before us like the islands that slumber on the ocean – and where the beautiful beings that here pass before us like visions will stay in our presence forever.”

Link to Anna (Cawley) Flannagan’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry