Cathleen "Kay" Flanagan Pavlis - October 12, 1926 - December 31, 2022 Orlando, Florida.
Beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully on New Year's Eve. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years John (2005), sister Rita Ebersole, and parents Chris and Hilda Flanagan.
Cathleen is survived by her children: Cathleen Oppelt (Kurt, deceased), John Pavlis (Mary), Thomas Pavlis (Joyce), and Peter Pavlis (Bernadette). She had seven grandchildren: Kurt, Chris (Kacey), Tim (Lauren), Stephanie Timpe (Neal), Dr. Michelle Pavlis (Tom Fernandez), Matthew (Stephanie) and Rachel Alamar (Ihab) . She had six great grandchildren: Abby, Ben, Reese, William, Ryan, and James.
Cathleen was born in New York City. Over the years she worked for the FBI (NYC), Singer Company (Syosset NY), and Orlando General Hospital (Orlando FL). She worked in Human Resources. While the children were growing up she worked part time in several secretarial jobs at Iona College and Manhattan College.
She sent all of her children to Catholic schools in NYC because she valued a good education. All of her children went on to graduate from college and received advanced degrees.
John and Kay moved to Orlando from East Northport NY in 1983. They enjoyed all of the aspects of living in Orlando - being close to family, good weather, and cultural and entertainment activities. At Ventura Kay frequently golfed, played bridge and watched movies with the ladies at the club house. She participated in tai chi classes at Orange County Senior Center.
Kay was a dedicated caregiver to her husband who was afflicted by Parkinson's disease for 20 years. She was never one to complain. In the last year of her life with health challenges she was always pleasant to the caregivers and appreciative of her family's care. God granted her wish to remain in her home which she so loved.
A Catholic funeral mass will be celebrated at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Winter Park FL on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:30am in the chapel.
She will be buried with her husband John at the National Cemetery in Bushnell Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Father Flanagan's Boys Town.