Kathleen Flanagan, OSB

Sister Kathleen Flanagan, OSB, 70, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Monday, April 6, 2026, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Sunday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there Monday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Kathleen was born in Riverside, Cal., to Dennis and Rose Ann Morton Flanagan on January 11, 1956, but spent most of her youth in Denver, Colo., where she delighted in summer work as a camp counselor in the mountains. In 1978, she received a B.A. in education from Benedictine College in Atchison, and would return there to enter the monastic community in 1984. She loved her career as an elementary teacher and school librarian, especially with the youngest readers. After earning a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University, she became a librarian at Benedictine College, where she served until her unexpected death. 

Sister Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents Dennis Flanagan and Rose Ann Flanagan Redmond, and her brothers Richard and Timothy Flanagan. She is survived by her brother James Flanagan (Libby) and sister Maureen Jones, both of Seattle, Wash., sisters-in-law Cheryl Flanagan and Sue Bordelon, nephews, cousins, and her monastic family. Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s website.

Reflection for the Vigil of Kathleen Flanagan, OSB

By Linda Herndon, OSB

On behalf of our Prioress Sister Mary Elizabeth and all the sisters of this community, we extend out deepest sympathy to Sr. Kathleen’s family: her sister, Maureen, and brother, Jim, her dearly beloved nephews, and the next generation of “greats” as she fondly called them. We extend sympathy, too, to all of Kathleen’s relatives, the numerous students she taught as teacher and librarian, and to her many co-workers. We hold you all in prayer.

On Easter Monday, shortly after Kathleen’s sudden and unexpected death, the Mount community gathered, as usual, for Morning Praise. We sang our opening song, “The Strife is O’er,” with many mixed emotions that morning:

“The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the Victor’s triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun: Alleluia!

Death’s mightiest pow’rs have done their worst,
And Jesus has his foes dispersed;
Let shouts of praise and joy outburst: Alleluia!”

Our sister Kathleen who, for over 40 years, prayed and sang with us at Morning and Evening Praise was no longer among us. There was a big hole in our hearts. But for Kathleen the “battle was done.”  She would no longer experience physical or emotional pain. For her, the everlasting song of praise was begun, her shouts of praise and joy outburst for all of eternity. 

The scripture readings we heard proclaimed this evening speak so vividly of Kathleen and her life among us. The Gospel reading from Mark describes Jesus reprimanding his disciples for trying to keep the children from coming to him. I picture Jesus surrounded by children just wanting to get near to him. In my mind, I see a similar picture of Kathleen with a book and surrounded by children (whether they be 5 years or 25 or older). I can hear Kathleen urging everyone to let the “precious children of God” hear the stories, to come to the library, to encourage children to read and learn all about the wonderful wide, diverse world about them.

Kathleen lived the words from Proverbs that we just heard:

“Do not forget my teaching, let your heart keep my commandments, do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you.”

The writer of Proverbs goes on to tell us that one who lives this way “will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and of people.” Since Kathleen’s death, I have heard so many stories about her. They all have one common thread…Kathleen had “found favor and high regard” with so many, many people. She “saw” each one, knew each one, cared about each person no matter who they were or what their status. I think that people sensed that she “trusted in the Lord with all her heart” and she could then trust in all of God’s people around her.

We miss Kathleen, but we rejoice with and for her. Those who knew her well knew that she had many sufferings in her life. She had only known her father as an ill man in bed who died when she was five years old. She suffered many physical ailments, calling herself a “bionic woman” because she had had so many joints replaced. She also suffered emotionally, too, but not many knew about this. Although St. Paul in the Letter to the Romans talks about “boasting in our afflictions,” this was not Kathleen’s style. She could echo with St. Paul, though, that she knew that her “affliction produced endurance, her endurance produced character, character produced hope, and this hope did not disappoint” her.

Early on Easter Monday, her hope found its fulfillment. Like the women who went to the tomb on Easter morning and discovered their beloved Jesus alive, that Easter Monday Kathleen heard her beloved Jesus and clung to him when he said,

“Come! The strife is over for you, too. I will be healing for you and refreshment for your body.” 

Kathleen had waited for 70 years to hear this final call of her beloved that she had first heard and followed at her baptism and later at her monastic profession. Through all the joys and struggles in her life, she had faithfully followed St. Benedict’s admonition in his Rule, “to never lose hope in God’s mercy” (RB 4:74). That Easter Monday, Kathleen’s hope and God’s mercy did not disappoint and reached its fulfillment. With Kathleen and for her, we, too, can rejoice and let “the song of praise begin! Alleluia!”