Gretchen Flynn

life story

A terrific mom and lover of BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS!

Gretchen lived an amazing life with courage and grace and was loved by her family.

Gretchen Flynn passed away peacefully on April 5, 2022, in the home of her daughter Sheila. Her son Steve and her daughter

Karen were also with her. She was 83 years old.

Gretchen was born in Chicago and raised in Pittsburgh. After attending college in Pittsburgh, she moved to Washington DC, where she met her husband Jim. In 1962 they were married in Morocco, where Jim was stationed with the Navy.

They returned to the Washington area in 1964 and lived for a period of time in Japan in 1971, where Gretchen home schooled her three children and took them on many adventures around Tokyo.

In 1976, the family moved to Rochester, Minnesota. After her husband Jim passed away in 1991, Gretchen moved to Saint Paul. She lived in the Mac Groveland area where she tended her duplex and large garden until 2007.

In addition to raising her family, some of Gretchen’s other roles included newspaper proofreader, small business owner, health care lobbyist, volunteer worker, and prodigious news consumer.

In 2007, Gretchen moved to the Becketwood community, where she had many wonderful years.

Things Gretchen loved included: knowledge, New York Times Crossword puzzles, chocolate cupcakes, travel, apples and cheese, Irish Setters, her grandchildren (who doted on her as Nana), good conversation, and books, books books! Her knowledge of history (especially Medieval, European, American, and Central Asian) was formidable.

Gretchen was brave. She was practical and humble. She had a wry sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. She had a keen interest in politics and policy, and despite the news of the day, she never stopped believing that people could do better, and could make things better.

As the steadfast Flynn-family matriarch, Gretchen never stopped taking care of her family. Her wisdom, sense of humor, and the virtues she demonstrated throughout her life guide us all.

Gretchen is survived by her three children Sheila, Steve, and Karen, her daughter in law Sue, sister Celeste, and grandchildren Margaret, Maddie, Izzy, and Aidan.

Per Gretchen’s wishes, her body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program.

We miss her greatly.

It was Gretchen’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Alight (previously American Refugee Committee) or Our Lady of Peace Hospice.