Kathleen Diane Flynn Cavanaugh

Kathleen Diane Flynn Cavanaugh

May 8, 1935 – April 18, 2023

A devout Irish Catholic who lived her faith and prayed the Rosary daily, Kathleen Diane Flynn Cavanaugh, 87, of Omaha, formerly of O’Neill, was no doubt welcomed into heaven when she passed peacefully on the evening of April 18, 2023, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha with her family by her side, just weeks before her 88th birthday.

Kathleen was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa (in her grandfather’s bed, as she liked to say) on May 8, 1935.  Her parents,  Kathryn Hough Flynn and Damion Ambrose Flynn, raised her and her two younger brothers in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended St. John’s Grade School on Creighton University’s campus and received her early sacraments there. Her giving spirit comes full circle as she donated her body to Creighton University Medical School.

She was a graduate of Omaha Central High School and attended Omaha University where she was enrolled in the teacher’s college when she met Joe Cavanaugh. Kathleen and Joe married in 1954 and moved to the Cavanaugh homestead 17 miles south of O’Neill, later moving into O’Neill and then to Inman.

A woman of great faith, she was a devout Catholic. She was a loyal, loving, and caring woman often putting others before herself. Although Kathleen held many jobs over the years, including selling Tupperware, managing departments in several retail stores, and selling real estate in North Platte while finishing her associate degree, her true life’s work was raising her six children.

Kathleen was active in St. Patrick Parish, serving as a Sunday School teacher, and as a parent volunteer in St. Mary Schools in O’Neill. Kathleen returned to Omaha in her later years where she was an active member of the Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Kathleen is survived by her brothers, John (Lynn) Flynn and Jim (Marcie) Flynn; children: Sheamus Cavanaugh, Colleen (Chad) Bishop, Maureen (John) Ross, Eileen Cavanaugh Bruce, Noreen (Tony) Vega and Kathleen (Patrick) Artz.

Kathleen was a loving and beloved grandmother to Heather (Nate) Bradley, Andrew (Shana) Bishop, Matthew Bishop, Sheila (Mitch) Ehresman, Allison (Greg) Ruswick, David (Talyer) Ross, Sara Bruce Bosier, Joe (Hailey) Bruce, Shane Vega, Shannon Vega, Daniel Artz, Erin Artz, Clare Artz, and Conner Artz. Great gramdother to Brennan, Isabella and Madelyn Bishop, Adelaide and Michael Ehresman, Remington Ross, Hudson and Olive Bruce, Asher, Bodie, Cruz and Evie Bosier. She was a maternal figure to numerous nieces and nephews and many “extra” kids. She was especially important to Shawn Flynn and Kelly Flynn Collard, and to Michael and Kayla Wheeler.

She will be joining her infant son, Shane; parents, Joe Cavanaugh; and many other beloved family members in Heaven.

Sweet dreams and may God bless and love you, dear Mother.  Love and prayers always.

VISITATION: Friday, May 19, 2023 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, West Center Chapel. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10:30am, Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4810 Woolworth Ave., Omaha, NE.