DOVER, NEW JERSEY - Marcella Chasse Flanagan died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in hospice care at St. Clare's in Dover, NJ. She died peacefully, in her sleep, following a years-long battle with Alzheimer's. Marcella was born May 23, 1932, in Frenchville, Maine. She was the youngest of Maxime and Marie Picard Chasse's ten children. She grew up in the St. John Valley, and graduated with an RN degree from St. Mary's School of Nursing in Lewiston, Maine. She married James Flanagan, and raised four children: Brenda, Paul, Patrick and Kelly. She worked as a nurse in Labor and Delivery in several hospitals, and eventually held the position of Director of Nursing at People's Benevolent Hospital in Fort Kent (now Northern Maine Medical Center.) She moved to Louisiana in 1973, where she worked as Nursing Director, Lakeside Woman's Hospital, from 1973-78; and then Nursing Director, at Slidell Memorial Hospital, from 1979-89. She opted to make a career move, and became president of Shamrock Turbine Specialists in Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish-a position she held until her retirement in 1994. She was deeply involved in her Catholic faith, and after retiring back to Maine, taught catechism classes in Frenchville.
She is survived by two children, Brenda Pladek of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, and Paul Flanagan of Kenai, Alaska; five grandchildren, Brittany and Kelsey Pladek, and Sean, Kellan and Lierin Flanagan; and her brother, Robert Chasse of Melbourne, Fla., and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by eight brothers and sisters; and two children, Patrick and Kelly.
The family plans a Memorial Service, to be held this summer at Ste. Luce Church in Frenchville, Maine.