Tommy Flynn
NYS Licensed Crematory Operator & Funeral Practitioner
The FLYNN family practice is based on the belief that “Special People Deserve Special Service.”
“A family only gets to say goodbye once; the service must be significant, have meaning, and reflect the love of the life lived.” That has been our motto since we started over 95 years ago, and it is the center of our daily service of each family we are honored to work with day in and day out. - Thomas Francis Flynn & Brendan Thomas Flynn - Owners
Fondly known by many as “Tommy,” he is the fifth of six children born to Thomas F. & Rita P. Flynn, Sr., who opened the Monroe location in 1954 and the Chester location in 1956.
In 42 years of working in the funeral, cremation, and memorial environment, Tommy has mastered multiple strengths. With all his talents focused on the families that have selected his service, he helps families celebrate the life lived in unique ways each time.
Tommy has a gift for telling the life story and presenting the impact of the life lived on all who may have come into contact with the deceased. His gift is a testament to his faith in human beings and the value of life, family, and friends.
Tommy has helped train staff members in correct cremation procedures at numerous crematories in the United States.
He has conducted training seminars for crematories and equipment manufacturers around the United States.
He has been selected to lecture to Mortuary Science students from several major universities. Primary medical schools in the Northeast have retained the services of Tommy and his staff to facilitate the final disposition of those donated in the memory of education and science.
The protocol developed by the Flynn family became the standard operation method when Edward J. Hand, the Senior Investigator for the New York State Department of State, Division of Cemeteries, created the position paper on correct crematory procedures. These procedures are the Gold Standard of the Cremation Field in the United States, as led by the Division of Cemeteries today.
Tommy has created many memorials and has been retained by the Honorable Edward I. Koch, the former Mayor of the City of New York, and Dr. Robert Ray Parks, the 15th Rector of Trinity Church, to design and place their memorials.
Major universities, various religious groups, and individuals from all walks of life call on Tommy to manage the details that must be attended to.
Calmly and professionally, he is always there to help when a death event or ceremony
is needed to represent the life lived.
Get to know Tommy Flynn on a personal level:
Tommy is not just a professional but a member of the community. He is married to Margie Flynn, an elementary school teacher, and they have four children: Conor (married to Kathleen), Brendan, Shannon, and Liam. They are now blessed with two grandchildren, Maura Theresa and Conor Francis. Tommy grew up in the Chester and Monroe communities, where he has been very active in various public and religious organizations. He is honored that Brendan is the third generation of the Flynn family to serve the community at the funeral home. His dedication to support local food pantries and found members of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan speaks volumes of his community service.
Accreditations
- Certified Funeral Practitioner
- President and Trustee of Oxford Hills Crematory and Founding Board Member since 1988
- New York State Licensed Funeral Director Since July 4, 1984
- State Certified Crematory Operator since 1988 and Former Instructor
- Cremation Association of North American Certified Crematory Operator
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Certified Crematory Operator
- National Certified Life Celebrant – 3 Certifications
- Member of the National Funeral Directors Association
- Member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association
- Member of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association
- Member of the New Jersey Funeral Directors Association
- Member of the Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties Funeral Directors Association
- President and Trustee of Oxford Hills Crematory and Founding Board Member since 1988.
Community Memberships & Affiliations:
- Ancient Order of Hibernians, Joseph Duelk, Jr., Division 1, Monroe, NY – member since 1983
- Former President, Vice President, Financial Secretary & Recording Secretary – JDJ – Division 1
- 2015 Vice President of the Joseph Duelk, Jr., Division 1, Monroe, New York
- 2016 President of the Joseph Duelk, Jr., Division 1, Monroe, New York
- 2017 President of the Joseph Duelk, Jr., Division 1, Monroe, New York
- 2017 Orange County, New York Ancient Order of Hibernians, County Vice President
- Ancient Order of Hibernians Orange County Board Chair
- Former Member of the Pipes and Drums of the AOH – Division 1 Band since 1984
- Knights of Columbus Council 2079, Monroe, New York, 4th Degree Knight
- Charter Member of the 4th Degree K of C, John Cardinal O’Connor Assembly 2640
- Holy Name Society – Chairman for 31 years of the Annual Corn Beef & Cabbage Dinner for Sacred Heart Church
- Chester Kiwanis – Chair of the Annual Chester Clean Up Day
- Mid-Hudson Parade Committee – E-Journal Chair
- Mid-Hudson Parade Committee – long-time sponsor & original Gold & then first Platinum Sponsor
- St. Brendan’s Gaelic Football Club, Orange County
- Chair of the Clergy Dinner of the Orange County AOH and LAOH
- Community Basketball, Soccer, Baseball & Gaelic Football Coach and Sponsor
- A lifelong member of St. Columba R. C. Church, Chester, New York
- Founding Member of the Board Directors of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties
- Charter Member of Monroe Chamber
Brendan Thomas Flynn
NYS Licensed Crematory Operator & Funeral Director
Brendan Thomas Flynn, the second son of Tommy and Margie Flynn, grew up in Monroe, New York, where he attended Monroe-Woodbury Schools. A passionate soccer player, Brendan enjoyed playing throughout middle and high school, ultimately serving as co-captain of the Monroe-Woodbury Varsity Soccer Team, where he proudly played for four years. Brendan also play College Soccer where again he was team Captain.
Today, Brendan serves as the Operational Manager of Oxford Hills Crematory and Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers. His commitment to serving families with care and integrity is the cornerstone of his work.
Understanding the importance of transparency, Brendan suggests families purchase their urns online and have them sent to his office for inspection. As part of his commitment, he places the cremains into the urn free of charge.
This dedication to affordability reflects Brendan's core values, demonstrating what true care for grieving families looks like—values instilled in him by his grandparents. Unlike many others, Flynn Funeral does not pass on the financial burden of purchasing or maintaining funeral home facilities to families in mourning.
Time and time again, families who experience Brendan’s compassionate service choose Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers to handle their funerals, memorial services, life celebrations, or entombments. Brendan's work honors a legacy of care, compassion, and respect for families during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Brendan attended St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY, majoring in math and accounting. He graduated with high honors, focusing his course of study in accounting.
Brendan described the respect given to the grieving families and the friendships he saw develop between the families served by our family firm as his main reason for joining the family practice. Brendan is a leader in the Cremation Industry in planning and execution of policies that are allow families to go to the crematory for Religious or personal reasons. He has organized and structure cremation assistance for other funeral homes or funeral directors that call upon his for his experience and expertise in the cremation and memorial field.
Brendan is a true sports enthusiast and enjoys watching soccer games (Manchester United) and college football and basketball games.
Randy M Chisholm
NYS Licensed Funeral Director
Randy Chisholm, a long-time member of the southern Orange County community, has been a Licensed Funeral Director since 1998. He worked at New York City and New Jersey-based funeral establishments before joining the Flynn team in 2005. Randy is also a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist, having served at the renowned New York Firefighters Skin Bank of New York Presbyterian Hospital. A firm believer in service to others, he has devoted part of his professional life to the social service arena where he has been a youth counselor, a case manager for at-risk youth and families in crisis, and has directed activities for skilled nursing home residents. He has also volunteered his time as a creative writing and media instructor at a youth center.
Randy earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the School of Visual Arts and graduated from the American Academy McCallister Institute of Funeral Service, both in New York City. An avid bicyclist and swimmer, he is also an award-winning photographer who owns-operates a fine arts photography business and is a skilled creator of digital life event and memorial videos.