Dolores Mary Flanagan

Dolores Mary Flanagan, 91, of Newton, North Carolina, passed away on September 16, 2026, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, with her daughter by her side.

Dolores was born on February 7, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Michael Zafarano and Mary Tedesco Zafarano. She was the third of seven children.

On January 28, 1956, Dolores married the love of her life, John Patrick Flanagan. Together, they raised their children, Lynn Ann and John. Dolores devoted much of her life to caring for John, who was born with Down syndrome, and remained a constant source of love and support to him until his passing at the age of 57.

Throughout the years, Dolores was deeply involved in serving her community. In Brooklyn, she was involved with the AHRC and helped with early services for young children. She moved to Long Island in 1972; there she owned and operated her own ceramic business for 17 years. Dolores was active in her church community, serving as an extraordinary minister and participating in choir, home retreats, and other church ministries.

After moving to Newton, Dolores became a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory, where she was asked to lead the Yarn Ministry for the Knights of Columbus. She was affectionately known as Dee, Momma Dee, and Grandma Dee. Dolores embraced helping and caring for others and found great joy in giving her time to those around her.

She loved spending time with her family and dogs, cooking, gardening, playing cards, and, most of all, being there for the people she loved.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Mary Zafarano; her husband, John Patrick Flanagan; her son, John; and her sisters, Sophia Catinella, Paula Ciranni, Marianna Allen, and Geraldine Beverly.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Ann, and son-in-law, Matthew F. McDonald; grandchildren, Matthew, Patrick, Katherine, and Kayla; great-grandchildren, Anistyn, Emersyn, Brayden, Rose, Autumn, and Daniel; her sister, Deanna Scalco; her brother, Michael; and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, located at 921 2nd St. NE, Hickory, NC 28601. A Funeral Mass will follow at 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made out to Knights of Columbus Assembly 1713 in memory of Dolores Flanagan, with “Yarn Ministry” noted in the memo.
Att: K of C Assembly 1713
St. Aloysius Catholic Church
921 2nd St. NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Flanagan family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.