KATHLEEN "KATY" MARGARET O'BRIEN

January 31, 1934 - October 8, 2022

Kathleen Margaret O'Brien, 88, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2022, with her only child at her bedside.

Katy was adored and is missed by her daughter, Moira Rose O'Brien Loussaert ("Molly"), her son-in-law Douglas Dominic Loussaert and her beloved grandchildren Clare Moira (age 18) and Patrick Douglas (age 14) with whom she shared a home in Iowa City, Iowa.

She is also survived by her sisters Sr. Daniel Therese (born Frances Flynn) of Los Angeles, CA, and Evelyn Warren of San Clemente, CA; brothers Thomas Flynn (Sharon) of Paso Robles, CA and Edward Flynn (Vivian) of Los Angeles, CA; her sisters-in-law Kathy Flynn of Chandler, AZ and Abigail Flynn of Encino, CA; and numerous nieces, nephews and their progeny.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Teresa Flynn; brothers Daniel Flynn, Lawrence Flynn, John Flynn (Joan) and James Flynn; sisters Patricia McDuffee (Duane), Sr. Mary Evelyn (born Anne Flynn), Sheila Flynn and Ellen Picard (Robert); her husband, Terrance John O'Brien ("Terry"), his sister Rosemary Reilly and brother Patrick O'Brien (Glynnys).

Katy will join her husband Terry in eternal rest at St. Ann's Catholic Church Cemetery in Long Grove, Iowa on November 26, 2022 at a private family burial service.

Katy was born in Van Nuys, California, on January 31, 1934, to Elmer and Teresa (Hanlon) Flynn--the seventh of their thirteen children. Katy's life in Southern California was full of love and laughter surrounded by her large Irish Catholic family. She worked for many years as a Dental Assistant where she proved herself as indispensable to a very busy practice--until she met a patient named Terry who became her husband. They married on May 22, 1971, and made their home in Orange County, California where Molly was born about a year and a half later. After her long tenure as a devoted and active aunt, Katy was delighted to become a mother.

Just before Molly started kindergarten the family moved to Iowa, from which Terry hailed. They made their home in small town Donahue where Katy's affection for Iowa with its Midwestern way of life and all four seasons grew. Katy even appreciated the beauty of winter as long as she could take in the snowy landscape through her picture window from inside by the fire. After Terry passed in December in 1988, Katy and Molly moved back to Southern California upon Molly's high school graduation in 1991.

Back in California, Katy served as an integral part of her family and was a devoted caregiver to her mother before her passing as well as to other family members. As history not only rhymes but can also repeat, Molly married a native Iowan whom she had known since childhood. A few years later, news of her first grandchild's expected arrival brought Katy back to the Midwest just before her birth in 2004.

Katy-known only as "GrandmO" to her grandchildren Clare and Patrick as a shorthand for Grandma O'Brien-played a major role in their daily lives often serving as their primary caretaker in their youngest years when their parents' careers required them to be elsewhere. Katy's continued presence with and caretaking of her grandchildren was a true gift to each of them. More recently, as Clare and Patrick grew, they shared their gift of vitality with Katy while Doug and Molly helped to provide a sense of ease and comfort to her-bringing her life of joyous family devotion full circle.

One of the many special ways Katy shared her love for her family and her fun spirit included taking her many nieces and nephews to Disneyland countless times. When Katy's marriage to Terry meant a move to Orange County she took full advantage of her even closer proximity to the Happiest Place on Earth by first strolling and then walking with Molly regularly in the park thereby sparking Molly's enduring fondness for Disneyland which she eagerly passed on to her family. Katy was tickled to be able to travel back to the park with her newest crew of Disneyland devotees just a few years ago when she was 83 years young.

Katy so loved and truly enjoyed her family and friends. She celebrated all those whom she held dear by sharing stories of her long life with them--whether they be near or far. Katy also loved to read (a lot), watch classic movies and kept up on current affairs by watching the news nearly every day. She followed sports including her native hometown Dodgers and Lakers as well as her adopted hometown Hawkeyes.

Katy will be remembered as a sweet, kind and giving soul who only wanted others to be happy.