Catherine 'Cathy' Flannery

Catherine Flannery of Watertown, S.D., enjoyed a long and lovely life. Most recently, she and her husband Paul Flannery had returned to the Midwest after spending their retirement years in Weslaco, Texas. While in Weslaco, Cathy was a longtime member of the local Sweet Adeline's, an international singing group. She loved bringing joy to people through song. She also loved dancing and the theater. Paul and Cathy first met when they were both members of the Notables, a singing group in New Ulm, Minnesota. They were married in August of 1999. Together, they shared a life full of friends, family and joy. Cathy's story started in Sherwood, Wisconsin, in 1940, where she was born the 2nd of two daughters to James and Mary Hallett. Cathy spent the majority of her childhood years in Mankato, Minnesota, and graduated from Mankato State University with an English major. Following college, she and her husband Paul Stadick raised two daughters and ran the Rexall drugstore in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. She was an active member of the Sleepy Eye community and served in various volunteer capacities, with organizations such as the hospital auxiliary and Chamber of Commerce committees. She was a member of St. Mary's parish, and she treasured friendships with her neighbors on 3rd Avenue N.W., especially fellow Irish woman, Betty Heymans. Following Paul Stadick's death, Cathy was married to Patrick Hennessy for several years before Patrick's death. Always one to look for beauty in the world, Cathy appreciated a stylish hat, a good book, a lively discussion, a tube of bright red lipstick, and small acts of kindness. Cathy is survived by her husband Paul; daughters and sons-in-law Ann (Stadick) and Scott Thorson and Mary (Stadick) and Jeff Smith; sister Colleen Whyte; Paul's children Pam, Peter and Paulette and their spouses; 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Special shout-out to Cathy's granddaughter and kindred spirit, Sydney, a television reporter in Rapid City. In her last years, Cathy looked forward to seeing Sydney daily on the local news. Visitation 1 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, September 3, 2022 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, September 3, 2022 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information 11:55 am Saturday, September 3, 2022 St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Reception To follow the interment in the church social room.