Nancy Lane Flynn

Nancy Lane Flynn, 66, of Cherry Valley, passed away February 7, 2010, in her home, surrounded by her family, after a long courageous battle with cancer.  Nancy was born June 8, 1943, in Aurora, daughter of Raymond and Florence (Smely) Thorp.  She graduated from Aurora West High School and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority.  She married Richard Flynn, her college sweetheart, on March 13, 1965.  She worked for over 20 years as a homebound teacher for the Rockford Public Schools.  She was an active member of St. Rita's Church and spent many years as a cantor and singing in the choir.  She volunteered for many groups over the years including Save the Land, Junior League, Youth Golf, Rockford Pro/Am, and as a board member for AYSO.  She was a member of several card clubs with friends and family.  She was an avid golfer who had two hole-in-ones, and participated in numerous golf leagues and tournaments, including many at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See CC where she was a member.  Nancy enjoyed spending winters in Fountain Hills, AZ, and was the unofficial tour guide for many family and friends.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband and also took various trips with her girlfriends as members of the LAFF group.  She enjoyed taking photographs and scrapbooking and would always make wonderful memory books of all her trips.  She was interested in genealogy and was the family historian, spending countless hours compiling the family histories of the Flynns and the Thorps.  She was a truly wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  She inspired us all with her strength and faith and she will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.  She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard; children, Andrew (Gina) Flynn, Brian (Mary) Flynn, and Kelly (Jeff) Lowary, all of Rockford; brother Donald Thorp of Hayward, WI; grandchildren, Justin, Sean, Kyle, Anna and Joe Flynn; and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her parents, brother and sister-in-law Richard and Jo Thorp of Aurora, and grandson Matthew LowaryFuneral Mass will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr. Rockford, IL  61109 with Monsignor Gerald P. Kobbeman officiating. Burial in Irish Grove Cemetery. Visitation from 3:30pm until 8:30pm Wednesday, February 10 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford and from 9:00am until 9:45am Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Nancy Flynn Memorial Fund in care of the family. To