Community mourns
Funeral service for Coun. Darrell Flynn set for Tuesday
The community continues to mourn the loss of Dist. 10 Coun. Darrell Flynn.
Friend Frank Canova of Dominion, described Flynn as, “The type of person who made a difference in your life. Darrell changed things for a lot of people —including for me — through his kindness. He was truly a great guy.”
Flynn, 58, was hospitalized June 22 battling complications related to pneumonia. He died July 6 surrounded by his family.
Canova said many of his own children and grandchildren have worked at Swiss Chalet — which Flynn owned and operated in Sydney — a grandson still works there. He said the staff thought the world of their boss.
“When they heard he died, they closed the restaurant, they were sharing stories and crying.”
Canova said Flynn was an awesome councillor who would never seek the limelight, but would help anyone he could in a quiet way.
“He was a very humble and very kind man,” he said.
“I spoke to many residents who said Darrell always returned every call and always did whatever he could to help,” said Canova, who is president of the Dominion Italian Hall.
Canova said this is a difficult time for so many people.
“It’s just too sad, he was just too young.”
Visitation for Flynn will be held on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home on Reserve Street, Glace Bay. The funeral mass will take place on Tuesday at St. Anne’s Church in Glace Bay, at 11 a.m. Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillors and staff will be forming an honour guard.
Flynn served as an elected member of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board for six years before entering municipal politics. He won a byelection by a landslide and became the councillor for District 10 on Dec. 6, 2014.
Lorne Green, chair of the school board, said the news of Flynn’s death was “devastating and shocking.”
Green described Flynn as “a genuine soul.”
“Darrell wasn’t a guy to hug another guy when he met them, but his words hugged you. He had a way with people, you just felt like you knew him forever from the first time you met him.
“He’s definitely going to be missed. Our condolences go out to his wife and children.
“He’s one of those men who touch your heart that you don’t forget.”