Cecelia Flanagan

Cecelia Flanagan

Cecelia D. Flanagan enjoyed the passing parade on Market Street from the front window of her Mackinac Island home, two doors down from the post office.

Mrs. Flanagan died Wednesday, November 28, 2007, at Mackinac Straits Hospital's Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace, at the age of 100.

She was especially proud of her knowledge of Mackinac Island and Michigan history and was a member of the Michigan State Historical Society, the Mackinac Island Historical Society, and a member of "Club 200," the original membership on which the Mackinac Island State Park friends group, Mackinac Associates, was founded. She was also a lifelong member of Ste. Anne's Church.

In old age, her hearing failed, but her sharp memory and her Irish wit never did.

"I've lived here for 90 years," she quipped to this newspaper on her 90th birthday. "I must like it, or I wouldn't have stayed here."

She was born Margaret Cecelia Donnelly July 4, 1907, to William and Mary Ellen (nee Quinn) Donnelly in their home on Market Street.

She was graduated from Mackinac Island High School and from Detroit Teachers College (now Wayne State University) with a life certificate in education, and taught at Center Line and on Mackinac Island.

She married James Donlevy Flanagan September 30, 1937, at Ste. Anne's Church on Mackinac Island, and he preceded her in death in 1967.

Surviving are her daughter, Kathleen Hoppenrath of Mackinac Island, and a sister, Adelaide Oenning of Skokie, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews.

Her son-in-law, Dick Hoppenrath, passed away in 1996.

Services will be held at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church on Mackinac island Saturday, December 8, at 11:30 a.m. with Father Rey Garcia officiating.

Memorials may be made to Mackinac Straits Hospital new building fund in appreciation for the wonderful care that Mrs. Flanagan received from the staff at the long term care facility.