Crystal Ann Flanagan, beloved wife, mother
Crystal Ann Flanagan, 68, of Lewes, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, in Milford. She was born in Weehawken, N.J., June 9, 1956, to Caroline Degbrina and the late Harold Keller.
Crystal met the love of her life, Joe, in 1981, introduced by his brother, Danny. She held him back when he tried to wrap his arms around her and he said, “Give me a kiss!” They always looked back at their first encounter as a humorous how-we-met story. Within three months of meeting, they were married at a modest wedding at the courthouse June 30, 1981, and spent 43 incredibly happy years together. Their love must have truly been written in the stars, as Crystal only survived Joe by three months. She reiterated many times she wanted to be with her Joey, and now they are reunited.
Crystal and Joe had two wonderful daughters, Susan and Keri, who meant the world to them. She always said her daughters were her best accomplishments in life. They knew she was just a phone call away to listen and offer support or advice. When facing hardships, she said if you need to come home, then come home. Without fail, she called every birthday to sing “Happy Birthday.”
Crystal was a proficient typist and made a career of being a legal secretary. She must have typed countless documents used in court proceedings working for law firms in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, offering 20 years of service.
Anyone who knew Crystal knew she loved to bask in the sun at the beach at any opportunity. She loved the smell of the salt water and the sound of ocean waves. She also loved reading and watching murder mysteries, and blasting rock music on Friday nights. Crystal and Joe loved to take cruise vacations together visiting Caribbean beaches. On her birthday, all she ever wanted was for the family to be together.
Crystal will always be remembered for being extremely resilient. Some have said she was a walking miracle, having fought and survived cancer seven times. She found humor even in the most tragic events and bounced back with incredible strength every time. We couldn’t have asked for a better mother and wife, and we will miss her every day. Crystal’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her. Crystal was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; and her father, Harold Keller. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Conklin (Christofer) and Keri Flanagan; her mother, Carol; her sister, Jaqueline; her brother, Michael; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 17, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where friends and family may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Bethel Methodist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to Hope Lodge Philadelphia, raiseyourway.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1206; or Delaware Hospice, delawarehospice.org/donate.
Visit Mrs. Flanagan’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
