Mary Lourdes Murphy - Flanagan

Mary Lourdes Murphy-Flanagan (née Cosenke), 99, entered eternal life on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Mary Lou was the oldest daughter of the late Peter and Mary (McGuiness) Cosenke. She was a lifelong resident of the Capital Region, growing up in Rensselaer where she attended St. John's Academy. A graduate of the College of Saint Rose, she later received a master's degree in library sciences from the University at Albany. After graduating from college, she worked for the Internal Revenue Service and Rose and Kiernan Insurance. Mary Lou left work to raise her five children and returned to work once her children were in high school or college. She then worked in various positions for the NYS Assembly Majority before moving to the NYS Legislative Library, from which she retired in 1994.

Mary Lou raised her family in Rensselaer and in Menands, then moved to Slingerlands with her second husband. For nearly 20 years, Mary Lou was a resident of Avila Retirement Community. She had an outgoing personality and made friends wherever she went. She had a talent for decorating and a strong interest in fashion and art. She also enjoyed shopping and never minded taking her time to find just the right thing.

Mary Lou was blessed with two wonderful husbands - Robert A. Murphy, Sr., who she married in 1951 and with whom she had five children - and Richard Flanagan, Sr., a widower with six children who she married in 1987, a decade after her first husband's death. In her later years she enjoyed spending time with this large blended family. She enjoyed traveling, visiting her daughter in Poland, and traveling across Europe and South America with her second husband.

She is survived by her sons, Robert (Paula) and James (Susan), and her daughters, Patricia and Eileen; step-children, Kathy (late, Hans), Dennis (Teresa) and Sheila, and former daughter-in-law, Marybeth Hassett. Mary Lou leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. She will be remembered by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was predeceased by her husbands, Robert A. Murphy. Sr. and Richard A. Flanagan Sr.; her son, Richard Murphy; stepsons, Richard (Leslie), Timothy (Jean), and Michael (Donna) Flanagan; two granddaughters, Rita and Elena Murphy; a grandson, Mark Flanagan; and her sisters Ann (John Mahar) and Jean (Charles Glassbrenner).

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her aides; Barbara, Rashida, LaDonna, Qu-danie, and Keya; for the compassionate care and kindness they provided to Mary Lou while she lived at Avila. Thanks also to the staff of The Community Hospice for their care of Mary Lou at both Avila and the Teresian House, to the nurses and staff of Teresian House, and to the Albany Medical Center Internal Medicine Group and her primary care physician, Kaitlin McCarty, PA, for their Insightful care and handling of her medical issues during the last years of her life.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Mary Lou's family from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer, N.Y. 12144. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at St Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Rd. Loudonville, NY 12211.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Lou's family requests donations to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208.