Evelyn Carol Flanagan

Evelyn C. Flanagan, 79, of Batavia passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She was born August 30, 1942, in Chicago the daughter of James Joseph and Justina Mary (Korpitz) Kerekes. She was united in marriage to Dennis Flanagan June 17, 1967, in Chicago, IL.

Evey grew up on the west side of Chicago and often recalled many fond memories from her childhood - playing in the neighborhood with friends, walking by the gum factory and having workers toss packs of gum out to the kids, and lemonade stands outside the hospital nearby. She graduated from Sienna High School and then went on to study education at DePaul University. She loved to travel and her time in Greece after graduation was one of her fondest memories. Evey was an avid bowler for many years and earned many trophies. In 1967 she married Denny and they started their family in Glen Ellyn. In 1977, she and Denny built her dream home and they moved to Batavia where she spent almost 45 years. She was a devout Catholic and enjoyed masses at Holy Cross Church. She had many hobbies which included gardening, cooking (new and old family recipes), traveling, reading mysteries, and a deep love for history.

As a mother, Evey shared her love for travel and different cultures with her daughters and grandchildren. She encouraged them to try new things and stay active, and spent hours of her time driving and carpooling her daughters to events. She would sit in the audience supporting them rain, snow or shine. As the girls got older, she was always a phone call away any time her daughters needed her, and would stay on the phone as long as they needed her. She loved her role as grandmother and cherished every moment with her grandchildren. She was always wishing the best for her family and friends.

Evey was an incredibly strong woman, who in the last eight years of her life faced the slow decline of vascular dementia. In the last ten months she was living in memory care, being there revitalized her in a way her family never expected. In the new facility, she welcomed many new residents and helped them feel at home. She became known as the “hat lady” for wearing her many colorful hats (sometimes many at one time!). She would put them on the caregivers, nurses and other residents, and they brought smiles and happiness to many. The spunky Evey came out and left her positive impression on everyone she met. It brings her family peace that the last days of her life were spent with dignity and purpose, and that she was content.

Evey is survived by four daughters - Heather Kraus, Erin (Steve) Flanagan-Kopenec, Courtney Flanagan and Lynn Flanagan and by her brother, John Kerekes. Evey was also a beloved grandmother to her loving grandchildren Jessica Kraus, Michael Stark, and Clara Kopenec, and a “great” great grandmother to Lauryn Warner. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Dennis Flanagan and her son-in-law, Jon Goldman. 

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 South Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL. 

Funeral services will begin with prayers at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, from Moss Family Funeral Home, before proceeding to Holy Cross Catholic Church 2300 Main Street Batavia to celebrate Mass at 10:30 A.M. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Geneva, IL.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Batavia Foundation for Education Excellence https://www.bataviafoundation.org/donate