Joan E. Flagg

OXFORD – Joan E. (Ryan) Flagg, 83, died Monday, January 29, 2024, at Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge.  She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Charles E. Flagg; two children, Cathy J. Bennett and her husband Richard of Oxford, and Chuck M. Flagg and his wife Kathleen of Holland; three stepchildren, William R. Smith and his wife Beatrice of Illinois, Phillip C. Smith and his wife Jennifer of Tennessee, and Wendy J. Anderson of Kentucky; her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Briggs and her husband Clifford of Oxford; 11 grandchildren, Justin, Derrick, and Andrew Bennett, George, Devin, and Bradford Flagg, Jessica Wales, Richard Chaffee, Brian Niekirk, Heidi and Tammy Anderson; 11 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and good friends.  She was born in Worcester, daughter of the late Maurice J. and Rita A. (Pelletier) Ryan, and lived in Worcester and Oxford before moving to Florida for 30 years.  She graduated from Oxford High School in 1957.

Mrs. Flagg worked as a school bus driver for Cazeault Bus Company in Oxford.  Later, she worked at WCIS Bank in Oxford for five years, and worked alongside her husband at Flagg’s Service Station in Oxford for many years.  She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Oxford, and served on the church’s Diaconate.  While in Florida, she was a member of the Mustang Club, and enjoyed playing cards and WII bowling on Tuesday nights.  She loved the outdoors and enjoyed boating, fishing, puzzles, and working in her yard.  Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family.  She will be greatly missed by her family, and will be remembered as a woman who enjoyed life to the fullest.

Services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 585, 355 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540, or to the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.

Paradis-Givner Funeral Home in Oxford is directing the arrangements.