Daniel W. Flynn

Daniel W. Flynn, 77, of Langhorne, passed on December 1, 2022.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years Marie V. Flynn (née Vitucci), his sons Sean Flynn (Karen), and Daniel Flynn, his grandson Brady Flynn, his brother in laws Frank Vitucci, and James Vitucci, and many nieces and nephews.

Dan was a Veteran of the US Marine Corps, serving 2 tours in Vietnam.

Dan worked for the Bud Company as a machinist, and as a manager at McGuiness’s Bar and the Westbury Bar.

He loved to travel the world, and watching his grandson Brady play ice hockey.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass on Tuesday December 6, 2022 at 10:30am at Assumption BVM Church, 1900 Meadowbrook Rd, Feasterville, PA 19053.  Viewing in church from 9:30am to 10:30am.

Interment will follow in Newtown Cemetery, Washington Avenue Newtown PA.

The family welcomes donations to The Chandler Hall Hospice Pavilion as an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers. 

Arrangements by John J. Bryers Funeral Home, www.bryersfh.com

A Memory of My Best Friend Dan Flynn

July 3, 1945

December 1, 2022

I guess you could say I'm like most people when it comes to public speaking: terrified, but I can honestly say that I have looked forward to this opportunity to tell you about my best friend Danny and our almost 75 years together.

Those of you that were blessed to have siblings of a similar age almost certainly will not remember actually meeting that sibling for the first time. That is how it was for Danny and l. We were always there for one another. He was every bit the big brother to me, exactly one and a half years older and from the same family structure: an older and a younger sister and no natural brother.

In the very early days Danny and I were cowboys. Back then the most popular Hollywood cowboy was Hopalong Cassidy, aka Hoppy. His sidekick was a handsome young cowboy named Lucky Jenkins.

Danny, being the loving big brother that he was always gave in to my desire to be Hoppy while he took the role of Lucky. While I looked nothing like Hoppy, Danny on the other hand, with his tall, slender good looks was the perfect Lucky. Al! of Hoppy and Lucky's adventures started and ended at the Bar 20 Ranch. That was us and the driveway that ran behind our houses became the Bar 20 for us.

Because our houses backed up to one another we saw each other almost every day. That ended however when I was six years old and my family moved from Mayfair to Knights Road in Torresdale. That marked the end of us seeing each other almost daily to a more once-in-a-while situation. It did not change the nature of our status as best friends however, as nothing could ever do that.

The house my family had purchased was secluded and nestled among at least one hundred acres of undeveloped fields and woods. Those fields and woods became Danny's and my new world to explore. We often talked about an overnight camping trip in those same woods as by now Danny had joined the Boy Scouts and was a seasoned camper, or so we thought!

The day finally came to go deep into the woods behind the house, pitch our tent, build a campfire and settle in for the night. I must say now, that for all my life, when I was with Danny, I was rarely afraid, no matter the circumstances or where we were as I fed off Danny's bravery. This night would be the exception however.

As darkness fell, as you might expect, the woods became spooky and I think the flickering of the campfire magnified everything. It quickly became evident that we were both having second thoughts when out of the darkness came a weird sound: Moooo-Moooo-Moooo. This went on for several minutes while Danny and I sat there terrified! Suddenly, my mother, of all people, appeared and said, "would you boys like to sleep in the house tonight?" She didn't have to ask twice! We quickly abandoned our little camp leaving our gear for a later retrieval and with flashlight in hand she led us home. From that very day Danny referred to my mother as the Moo while she often called him son. She loved him as much I did.

I recall here the scene at my mother's deathbed some ten years ago as Danny and I sat om either side of her bed, each hold a hand as Danny said, "Moo, your cowboys are here with you." That was Danny and his loving heart.

It was about now that tragedy came into Danny life. His mother, Marion, a gentle, quiet woman passed away from cancer. Danny was twelve but, as with all the later trials and tribulations of his life, he faced it bravely and moved forward. After some time had passed Danny's father, I'll call him Big Dan, remarried. The marriage lasted but a few years and once again the Flynn household was missing that mother figure.

As Danny was now in his late teens he decided that he wanted to become a Marine. Since he was only seventeen, he was going to need the written consent of his father. He told me at the time that he doubted his father would give his consent but to his surprise Big Dan signed the papers and Danny was now a Marine. I have to feel that Big Dan knew that this would be good for his son, and it was! So, it was off to Parris Island and boot camp.

Out of boot camp came many stories but my favorite will forever be what I like to call, "the Great Whistling Incident!" It happened like this: one early evening during quiet time while all the recruits were polishing their boots someone decides to enhance his work by whistling. While in the everyday world this would be a good thing, showing joy in your work, in Marine boot camp it was a big no-no!!!!

Out of the Drill Instructors quarters came a scream, "who's whistling out there?" Of course, it was our boy, Dan! The DI came out and said, "okay Flynn, since you like to whistle how about sharing it with the entire squad. Get up on that table so everyone can hear you." Danny complies and just as he realizes he can't stand full straight up on the table the DI shouts, "ATTENTION!" To accommodate the order Danny straightens his torso but has to bend his knees to leave clearance for his head. It was difficult to say the least but the hardest part is yet to come.

Danny, now has to whistle but he can't! From all the pressure his mouth is dry and his knees are actually knocking from the strain of his awkward and painful stance. Because Danny is unable to whistle the DI is becoming frustrated and commands Danny to yodels Well, I don't know about you but I can't yodel and neither could Danny but he improvised by repeating, "yodel-Iy, yodel-iy, hooo; yodel-iy, yodel-iy, hooo." The DI gave up.

Toward the end of boot camp sadness once again came into Danny's life. His Dad, Big Dan, suddenly passed away leaving Danny and his two sisters without a parent. Danny's life was spoken for as he belonged to the Marine Corp for the next four years and his older sister Carol could take care of herself but Diane, the youngest, would still need parenting. Big Dan's sister Katherine and her husband Bill moved into the house on Charles Street and filled that role.

Danny was now off for four years of service to his country which will include a year in Japan and two separate one-year tours of Veit Nam. Now Danny really liked being a Marine and often told me he was seriously considering a career in the Corp. The second tour of Nam was nasty and changed any thoughts of re-enlisting.

While Danny was away, ! met the girl/woman with whom ! was to spend the next 58 years (54 as a married couple.) When Danny returned, he and I quickly picked up where we left off and with Marietta at my side, we quickly became a party of three. Danny also became good friends with my buddies especially Bob Dzumaga, Jimmy Clement, Danny Madrigale and John Dalquist. We all became quite the gang, hanging out at Big Boys on the boulevard and just doing our thing.

When Marietta and I married in September 1968 Danny of course was my best man as I would later be for him. He spent many a Saturday

crashed on our couch, making Sunday breakfast and staying all day

Sunday for pinocle and dinner with Bob Dzumaga and Marietta's father, Mickey. They were great times for sure but something was missing in Danny's life. It's time to que Marie!

Danny and Marie met at a nightclub on the Boulevard named D'Scene. At the time it was the in place for young adults. At first, they were just part of a crowd of friends but it soon turned to dating and mutual true love. We were now no longer a party of three but a foursome occasionally taking in movies or dinner together but the best double date was the night Danny and Marie eloped to Elkton Maryland.

It was October 1969 and Danny and I had attended the bachelor party for my soon to be brother-in-law, Bob Lewis. I took it easy on the beers that night as I had to get us all safely to Elkton. Danny and Marie married the next day, oddly enough, standing in front of the same JP who had Married My parents in 1938 and Marietta's parents in 1949. I would again stand with Danny at their church wedding a few months later. For years no one knew of that Elkton elopement.

Now Danny and Marie were settling in to married life and it wasn't long until Sean was born and the happy couple were building their dream home on what I will forever call "Flynn's Mountain". I'm convinced that it is that driveway that kept them all in good shape all those years! When young Danny came along the Flynn family was complete.

Al of y'uu that have known Danny over the years know what a wonderful father he was: I always loved his stories about raising two sons as my life experience raising two girls was all together different. I never tired of Danny's tales of Sean's hockey and young Danny's karate but he was especially proud of the fine young men they had become.

When Sean married his love Karen and gave the Flynn family a grandson, Brady, Danny was beaming with pride. He was so proud of Brady's academic achievements and athletic skills and the great job that his parents were doing with him. He could see the wonderful young man Brady would be.

I know how much we are all going to miss him but please know in your heart of hearts that Danny, the husband, father, grandfather and friend will always be with us. Draw from the bravery he displayed his entire life, especially as he faced this final trial. In typical "Flynnie" fashion he even found some humor in it all. Amazing! !!!

I'll close now with this thought: if you were to look up the acronym BFF in the dictionary perhaps you will find a picture of two little boys, five and six years old wearing cowboy hats with toy pistols strapped to their hips. Truly, Best Friends FOREVER!!! !

Oh, and Lucky, I'll meet you by the hitching post on the old Bar 20.

Love, Hoppy.

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