On Nov. 15, 2019, Mary Lee Flynn Hannan of Gales Ferry passed away after a long illness. Lee was born July 6, 1942 in Troy, NY, but grew up in New York City. She was the oldest child of the late Marie Bernadette (Atkinson) and Orville Joseph Flynn. She was predeceased by her brother Michael Flynn. She is survived by husband Michael James Hannan, sister Patricia (Fred) Brune of Groton, sister Kathleen Quinn of NC, children Michael (Shawna Zito) Hannan of Quaker Hill, Elizabeth (James) Kading of Pawcatuck, and Matthew (Jenny Lee) Hannan of Greenville, RI, as well as by five grandchildren, one great grandson, and nieces and nephews.
Lee and Mike were married on Oct. 21, 1961, in Woodside, Queens, NY, where they resided until moving with their three children to Gales Ferry in 1971. Family was at the core of her life. She especially adored and was warmly loved in return by her five grandchildren, Tristan Kading of Jeffersonville, VT, Troy Hannan of Niantic, Emily Kading of San Diego, CA, Charlotte Kading of Pawcatuck, and Calin Hannan of Greenville, RI, as well as her great grandson Torrin Hannan of Niantic. She also shared a deep bond with her nephew Alexander Brune of West Haven.
Lee loved animals and nature and was a volunteer at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic in the 1970s and 1980s. While there, she became involved in rescuing and rehabilitating wild birds, including songbirds, crows, ducks, owls, Canada geese, and swans. She participated in the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count for a number of years. In addition, she provided a loving home to countless cats, dogs, chickens, turtles, and other pets throughout her life. She was also an avid gardener and an accomplished seamstress. Lee earned an associate degree from Three Rivers (Mohegan) Community College in 1986 before taking a job in the business department at the Ledyard Town Hall and then the Ledyard Board of Education until her retirement in 2013.
Lee’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the Center for Hospice Care in Norwich for their wonderful care and support.
Arrangements are being handled by Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service of New London. Memorial will be private.
Memorial donations in Lee’s memory may be made to the CT Humane Society (https://cthumane.org/).