Carol Flanagan Anderson, of Bainbridge Island, Washington, passed peacefully Saturday, August 27th, 2022 after an extended illness. She lived a full life of 80 years.
Carol was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania to the late James and Levina Kennedy Flanagan on May 29th, 1942. She was a 1960 graduate of St. Francis School in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. She was proud to
have been raised eighth in a family of 10 children. Hers was a close-knit Irish-Catholic family whose ancestors immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in the mid-1880s. Despite their spectrum of ages, Carol remained close with her brothers and sisters throughout their lives.
After graduating from high school, Carol traveled to southern California with her brothers’ families in pursuit of further education and work. She worked for a number of years as an administrative professional at MacDonald Douglas. While in California, she met her future husband and lifetime companion, Joel Anderson. They were married in the Mission Santa Barbara on November 29th, 1969.
In 1984, Joel and Carol moved from the California area and settled on Bainbridge Island with their three children. There, they raised their children, cultivated meaningful friendships, and made a home. Carol worked as a stay-at-home mom for several years and then as a paraprofessional at Ordway Elementary School. In all she did, Carol devoted herself to the children in her care, be it her own children, her students, or later, her grandchildren. Carol was also an artist, dabbling in various mediums, including paint… and humor. Dubbed “Erma” by her friends and colleagues (after the legendary author and humorist, Erma Bombeck), she was quick with a pun, a joke, or any form of light-hearted banter. She had a fabulous sense of humor. She is preceded in death by her five brothers Leon, Sheridan (Bud), Terry, James (Jimmy), and John, and two sisters, Rosemary Hoy and Patricia Rumfola. She is survived by her sisters, Joan Domico and Margaret Bell, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by her husband, Joel Anderson, with whom she enjoyed 53 years of devoted, caring marriage. She is survived by her children, Eric Anderson, Christopher Anderson, and Megan Inslee, all who loved her dearly. She is survived by her grandchildren Brody, Zoe, and Chase Inslee, with whom she enjoyed the adoration and closeness that every grandparent could hope to have with their grandchildren.
Carol, always unassuming, beautifully genuine, and virtually unflappable, will be dearly missed by all who loved her. She lived a full life. A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Church on Bainbridge Island on Sunday, September 25th, 2022 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s memory to the Bainbridge Island Schools Foundation, supporting the important work of educators and paraeducators in our community.
