Helen C. Flanagan

February 2, 1940 - April 23, 2020

Helen C. Flanagan passed away peacefully on April 23, 2020, following a long illness. Helen, daughter of the late Euthemia and Nicholas Christakos, was born and raised in Lawrence, Mass. After graduating from Lawrence High School in 1957, Helen worked for Bay State Gas Company in Malden, Mass. She spent most of career as a paraprofessional in the Methuen school system until her retirement. Helen was a loving and devoted wife of 51 years to the late Edward “Ted” P. Flanagan, Jr., who passed away in 2014. Helen raised her family in Methuen in a home full of laughter, fun, travel, and adventure. She was an avid reader, a skilled baker, and loved attending book club. Helen was a caring, loyal, and supportive friend. She leaves her children Kelly Martin, her husband, Jay, and their children Alexander and Victoria of Newburyport; Christopher and his wife, Giovanna, of Melrose, Christopher’s sons, Ryan and Kyle of Reading, and Giovanna’s sons Aidan and Christian of Melrose; and Timothy and his wife, Karen, and their children Emily and Jack of Windham, N.H. Helen also is survived by her brothers Peter Christakos and his wife, Karen, of Pensacola, Fla., and Christos Christakos of Methuen; her sister-in-law Sheila Gagnon and her husband, James, of Chesterfield, Va.; and brother-in-law Kevin Flanagan and his wife, Suzanne, of Reading. She leaves many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and her best friend of 50 years, Loretta Curtis of Methuen. Helen was especially proud to be Yia Yia to her six grandchildren who she loved spending time with and supporting in all their activities and events. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of her husband. A private service will be held at John Breen Memorial Funeral Home in Lawrence followed by burial officiated by Helen’s nephew Father Gregory Christakos at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.