FLYNN, Johanna Gertrude, (nee Murphy) – Born March 10th, 1928, and returned home to heaven, in the early morning hours on January 25th, 2012 at the Pentecostal Senior Citizen’s Home in Clarke’s Beach. She was the fourth born at home near Brigus, Newfoundland into a family of three sisters: Kathleen, Alice, Margaret and her brother Bill. Her father, Paddy Murphy (Poppy), reached the grand age of 92 years, but her mother died a young woman in Johanna's early years. Gertie grew up in their simple yet practical home where she and her sisters shared one bedroom together, and even in their young years, carried out daily responsibilities in the large gardens, while also tending horses and goats, making bread in a wood stove between rare fun and games while playing in the meadows, doing all the household chores, and loved their feather bed at the end of a long productive day. Her father, an excellent provider, worked in the mines and on the highroads, kept his family fed and clothed and kept them comfortable during extremely lean years. She dearly loved her “Daddy” and spoke of him with the greatest respect, fondest memories, and unwavering loyalty. In her youth, remarkably for the time, Johanna survived three bouts of rheumatic fever, her last at age 18, and later survived ovarian cancer. Being a hard working woman, and seeking her independence, she left home once her health improved, and journeyed by train on the Newfie Bullet into St. John’s. She worked in the Sanatorium where, while taking care of one of the patients, she met the love of her life, Patrick “PJ” Flynn of Chapel’s Cove. They married in 1955, bought a beautiful salt box home in Chapel’s Cove where they fished, raised chickens and other livestock and worked their garden, producing sellable vegetables and poultry. In 1959, PJ, accepted a job and was hired by the Iron Ore Company of Canada's (IOCC), Safety Department, and moved to Carol Lake, later renamed Labrador City. Also that year, when family housing accommodations were finally provided to the booming mining town, he was joined by “Duckie” as he affectionately called Gertie, and their son Robert, who he always referred to as the “little boy,” even when Robby passed the height of six feet. A few years later, and without 'permission' from PJ, this free spirited woman spread her wings once again, and went to work in the IOCC Cafeteria where she continued working until it closed. In 1979, after completing 20 years of dedicated service with

IOCC, PJ retired and together they returned to Chapel’s Cove, built their new home, and settled in for a well deserved and comfortable retirement. Unfortunately PJ passed in 1983 and Johanna remained faithful to his memory for her next 29 years. Gertie felt she had gained a daughter through Robert’s marriage in 1983, to Deborah (Arnold), which was followed by her first grandchild, Max, in 1993 and her granddaughter, Kathryn, in 1996. Johanna Gertrude was a kind, gentle, and loving woman, who rarely complained, and possessed, among other admirable qualities, a wonderful sense of humour, and a special gift in the form of an extremely creative nature who often thought outside normal convention, finding solutions to any task at hand with often, only her creative imagination to fix it. She often quoted, and was able to follow the old adage that, Necessity is the Mother of Invention, always ready for an adventure, even at a moments notice, she accompanied Bob and Deborah on several vacations and was a regular visitor to their home in Labrador City and in Fort Collins, Colorado. Johanna Gertrude is survived by her sister Margaret, her son Robert, grandchildren Max and Kathryn, daughter-in-law Deborah, nieces, nephews and many friends. She will be lovingly remembered and forever missed. Resting at Dunphy’s Funeral Home, Holyrood. Visitation on Saturday & Sunday from 2 - 4 p.m. & 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 30, 2012 from SS Peter & Paul Church, Harbour Main. Interment will be in SS Peter & Paul Cemetery, Chapel’s Cove. Flowers gratefully accepted or donation in her memory may be made to SS Peter & Paul Parish Memorial/Restoration Fund or to a charity of one’s choice. Please visit www.dunphys.ca to sign the memorial guest book or to send a message of condolence.