Marilyn Agnes Flavin, 94, passed away Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, with her two loving daughters, Patricia and Mary, at her side.

Marilyn was born in Joliet, Ill. on March 20, 1929, to John and Cecile (Bannon) Condon. She was raised in a loving, Irish family, and her life was filled with frequent celebratory family gatherings that included her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. These experiences shaped Marilyn’s love for family that endured throughout her lifetime.

Marilyn was a graduate of St. Francis Academy in Joliet in 1947. It was during her high school years, on New Year’s Day 1945, that Marilyn was introduced to William “Bill” Flavin, the love of her life. The introduction was orchestrated by Marilyn’s best friend and Bill’s first cousin, Betty (Fitzgerald) Brown, at her family’s cabin in Wilmington, Ill. (the “Kill Kare Kabin” on the Kankakee River). Marilyn and Bill dated for several years and were married in Joliet on Aug. 30, 1952.

For the next 20 years, Marilyn and Bill raised their eight children in the Joliet area until a momentous opportunity was presented to the family in 1972. Bill accepted a promotion with Olin Corporation and moved the family to Lake Charles, La. in the summer of that year. Marilyn boldly led the family into their new Louisiana lifestyle and embraced her new Lake Charles community while supporting Bill and her children in every way. 

Side by side, Marilyn and Bill became real estate brokers and established Flavin Realty, Inc. in 1976—a company that remains in the Flavin family to this day under the leadership of Marilyn’s oldest grandson, Beau Flavin. 

Marilyn’s Catholic faith was the cornerstone of her life. She spoke openly of her love of the Lord. She was a devoted member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church for over 50 years, serving as a member of the Altar Society and a sacristan for many years. Marilyn was also a volunteer at Crossroads Catholic Books & Gifts Store and supported the special education needs of children at Regina Caeli Academy in her spare time.

At the time of her death, Marilyn was the matriarch of a family of 77 descendants who will forever remember her as their cherished “Nana”. The Flavin family will find comfort in their memories of Marilyn’s devotion to their “Papa” and her commitment to celebrating each achievement in their lives, big and small. They will forever miss her dry sense of humor and colorful storytelling.

Marilyn was preceded in death, by her loving husband Bill, who passed in 2014; her parents, John and Cecile Condon; father and mother-in-law, Maurice and Catherine (Keough) Flavin, brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Norma Condon; brother, the Rev. William Condon; sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and William Hartmann; sister-in-law and brother-in-law; Mary Therese and Robert Devine; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Lois Flavin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Margaret and Richard Smego; grandchild, Kyle Robert Flavin; and great-grandchildren, Samuel Joseph Flavin and Mary Frances Flavin.

Marilyn is survived by her children, Robert (Susan), Gary (Pam), Patricia, Daniel (Lisa), Timothy (Kathy), Mary Margaret, Thomas (Sharon) and James (Kelly) Flavin; her grandchildren, Kelly (David Ford), Kathleen (Tim Medrano), Kristen, Kevin and Kara Flavin, Will Flavin, Maggie (Morgan O’Keeffe) and Will (Danielle) Fuselier, Beau (Tricia), Brent (Amanda), Brady (Louise), Bobby (Sarah), Benjamin and Bonnie Flavin, Molly (Sam LaHaye), Colleen (Mason Jacobs) and Megan Flavin, Emily Flavin, Corinne, Connor, Burke and Quinn Flavin; 31 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their descendants. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Lake Charles. Interment will be in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Lake Charles. Visitation will be Friday evening, Oct. 6, 2023, from 5 p.m., until 8 p.m., with a Rosary at 6 p.m., and continues the next morning from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., at the Johnson Funeral Home until departing to the church.

Pallbearers will be: Beau, Brent, Brady, Bobby, Benjamin, Kevin, Will, Connor, Burke, Quinn Flavin, Will Fuselier, David Ford, Tim Medrano, Morgan O’Keeffe, Sam LaHaye and Mason Jacobs. 

The family is grateful to the doctors, nurses, medical staff, and sitters who cared for Marilyn over her last years. Special thanks go out to Dr. Edward Hebert and the staff at St. Joseph Hospice, Calcasieu Community Care Center, Villa Maria Retirement Center, and Verandah Retirement Community.

The family requests that memorials in Marilyn’s name be made to her beloved parish, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, 617 W. Claude St., Lake Charles, LA 70605, or to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or MDAnder son.org/Gifts.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.