Sylvia Lyn Flanagan was born Oct. 31, 1966, in San Diego, Calif., and left this earth on June 1, 2026, in Eureka Springs, Ark. Sylvia is survived by her partner, Donna Kesner; her mother, Tommie Flanagan; sister, Lori Delrio; brother, Steve Flanagan; niece, Corrine Russell; nephew, Nicholas James; and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.
Tommie Flanagan’s memories of her daughter
I sometimes wonder why God had sent us another child. It didn’t take long for us to get the answer. My father (Papaw) had passed one month before Sylvia’s arrival. Naturally, Mamaw (my mother) was devastated. She felt she didn’t have anything to live for.
Following Sylvia’s arrival, my mother would take Sylvia, and I would have to pry Sylvia out of her arms to take her to my home. She found something to live for. The two remained lifelong friends and traveled together twice on the train to Tennessee.
When Syl was just starting fourth grade we decided to take off in our sailboat and go to Mexico and the South Pacific. We traveled with her and her older brother, Steve, for a year and had the time of our lives. She was exposed to island life and learned some Spanish, French and Polynesian languages, plus experienced types of food that we hadn’t eaten before.
As Syl grew older, she was into softball (following the footsteps of her older sister, Lori) and surfing. She loved to swim, surf and water ski before becoming a varsity volleyball player with a group of girls in high school who became lifelong friends.
She graduated high school at age 17 and the following year went to California State University at Humboldt where she got dual bachelor’s degrees in Comparative World Religion and Philosophy, with minors in Sociology and Psychology.
For two years in between degree pursuits, she went to Japan and taught English to automobile executives – another learning experience where she learned some of the Japanese language and how to make some great Japanese dishes.
A few years later, she completed her master’s pursuit in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She completed internships, externships and practicums with Sharps Hospital and Catholic Charities, before working with Sharps Hospital as a behavioral therapist and before opening her own very successful private practice, prior to moving to Arkansas. Simultaneously, she also served as the director of the New Life Center at the First United Methodist Church where she provided counseling to individuals, couples, and families.
On to Arkansas! She went from surfer chick to farm girl. I can see her now – in overalls and beach flipflops.
Donna Kesner’s memories of her partner
In 2017, Sylvia earned her certification to practice marriage and family therapy in Arkansas. Her words of wisdom continue to resonate deeply with those she inspired along the way, and there were certainly many. The enduring values she instilled in all of us will remain for generations to come.
In 2023, dedicated to her spiritual journey, Sylvia began a two-year program with Franciscan nuns. Before her passing, she was preparing to become a spiritual director. In 2025, Sylvia joyfully became a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Eureka Springs, once again fulfilling her longing for community.
Sylvia’s interests were fueled by her passion for woodturning. She found great joy at her lathe, creating bowls, pens, rings, letter openers, and wine stoppers. She also loved riding her Harley through the Ozark Mountains, embracing the freedom and exhilaration of the open road.
Our memories of Sylvia are treasured gems. We will forever cherish her joyful spirit, her love of adventure, and her willingness to embrace new experiences. How lucky we are to have known someone so precious that saying goodbye is so difficult. Love big, play hard, and always try new things.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the ALS Association or the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Sylvia’s honor.