Anne Flanigan Emmett

Anne Flanigan Emmett passed away peacefully on November 14, 2022, at her home in Bethesda, Maryland, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends throughout the day.

Anne was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1943. She attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C. and Stanford University in California, where she earned her Masters in Education. While at Stanford, she met law student Robert Addis Emmett, III, in the cafeteria, but only because she broke the ice and invited him to walk her to class. They married in Baltimore in 1969. Together they spent two years in the Peace Corps in Venezuela, where Anne taught English and pursued dark room photography.

Anne and Bob later moved to Bethesda, Maryland, and had four children followed by nine grandchildren. After years of teaching, she became a realtor and was a top producer at various firms, ultimately partnering with her daughter Laura Emmett O’Connor at Long and Foster in the Bethesda All Points office. Her intricate knowledge of houses, magic touch with people, and deft negotiating skills led to many satisfied clients and happy homes.

Anne was active in her community throughout her life and served as president of the Edgemoor Citizens Association, president of the Sidwell Friends Parents Association, and president of the Gibson Island Garden Club, among many other posts. Anne’s hobbies included reading, gardening, and traveling, but most of all she loved being with her large and happy family, especially at the family’s Chesapeake Bay home where many enjoyed legendary porch dinners, crab feasts, and luau-style family reunions.

Her family will remember her as a loving mother and grandmother, a dedicated friend, a gracious entertainer, and someone who would take charge in any situation. She embodied the maxim, “I’m not bossy—I just have better ideas.” Those ideas included the annual epic multi-generational Emmett family Christmas party, family vacations on Lake Michigan and in Maine, Peace Corps reunions at the Bay, and New Year’s with “the group,” her dear lifetime family friends.

Anne is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert Addis Emmett, III; her daughter Jennifer Emmett, and husband Lee Bodner, their children Katherine Bodner, David Bodner, Sarah Bodner; her daughter Laura Emmett O’Connor, and husband Francis O’Connor, their children Lilly O’Connor, Patrick O’Connor; her son Bob Emmett and partner Amy Strope, his son Finn Emmett; her son Andrew Emmett, and wife Blakey Burr Emmett, their children Palmer Emmett, Austin Emmett, Elise Emmett; her sister Kathie Asmuth and husband Tony Asmuth, her brother John Flanigan and wife Karen Girg; and her sister-in-law Susan Flanigan, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is pre-deceased by her parents Mary Ann and Pierce Flanigan, her brother Pierce Flanigan, her sister Eileen Flanigan Serene, and her brother-in-law Joe Serene.

Funeral services will be held at Holy Trinity Church, 1315 36th Street, NW, Washington, DC, on December 9th 11:30 AM, followed by a reception at La Ferme, 7101 Brookville RD. Chevy Chase, MD, 1:30-3:30 PM.

Gifts in memory of Anne can be made to World Central Kitchen: https://donate.wck.org/. Designate in memory of Anne Emmett and include [email protected] in recipients’ email, to share messages with the family.