Barbara Flynn commenced the last journey of her remarkable travels when she passed away on Good Friday, April 2, 2010 surrounded by loving family and friends, following a brief illness. She was a remarkable woman, unforgettable and universally loved. She was a proud matriarch in her family, active in her home town of Melrose, and extensively involved in the two parishes she called home, in Wakefield, Mass and Wolfeboro, NH. Her interests centered primarily on her family, but included an Interfaith Discussion Group of 40 years standing, as well as art, music, literature, civics and extensive international travel. As a child, Mrs. Flynn hoped to be a diplomat, but was discouraged from pursuing this because it was 'not an occupation for a woman". Her interest in other cultures never waned, however, and for many years she hosted foreign visitors in her home to learn about their home lands, and cultivated many relationships with them for decades. As her circumstances permitted, she travelled through all 50 states and to over 100 countries on all seven continents including Antarctica. A lifelong Melrose resident, she graduated from St. Mary's High School and from Regis College. She taught special education before raising her family. She was extensively involved in community affairs, especially the local League of Women Voters, serving as their President for two years. She assumed leadership roles with the Melrose Experiment in International Living and the Melrose Community Council. Mrs. Flynn was a deeply religious woman who expressed her faith in her two church homes. Over the years she served as Eucharistic Minister, CCD teacher, a member of the Women's Guild and the "Protecting God's Children" program. She previously worked with the Christian Family Movement and with the Archdiocesan Pre-Cana Board. Mrs. Flynn completed her Masters in Education at Salem State College and her CAGS at BU in 1975. She worked for 25 years as the school psychologist for the Beverly Public School system. In her retirement, she volunteered as an advocate for special needs children through the Massachusetts Surrogate Parent Education program. Mrs. Flynn loved to organize entertainment and activities for her family and for the groups in which she participated. She was a voracious reader and claimed to have read every science fiction book in the collection at the Melrose Public Library. She played piano and accordion and teamed with her husband Al to entertain in many venues. She will be remembered by family and friends for her wit and wisdom, and for her extraordinary social and organizational skills. Mrs. Flynn is survived by her brother Jack (John) Lynch and sister-in-law Bernie of Tucson, Arizona, and by her sister-in-law Frances F. Alexander of Beverly. She leaves three loving daughters: Mary Shaw and son-in-law Larry of Weston; Annmarie Flynn and daughter-in-law Paula of Cambridge; and Rosemary F. Lounsbury and son-in-law Scott of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. She will also be missed by four grandchildren, on great grandson and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral home 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Wed. April 7th at 9:00 am. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St. Wakefield at 10:00 am. Family and friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours Tuesday 24 and 79PM. Interment is private. Arrangements by The Gately Funeral Home of Melrose. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Barbara's memory may be made to St. Katharine Drexel Church, P.O. Box 180 Wolfeboro, NH 03894; Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 11 Grove St. Wakefield, MA 01880; or Regis College Scholarship Fund, 235 Wellesley St. Weston, MA. 02493. For directions or to sign the guest book, please visit www.gatelyfh.com