Elizabeth Flagg

Elizabeth (Brown) Flagg died peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at age 93 She was born on September 20, 1932, in Auburn, Maine to Christine (Daniels) Brown and Donald Edwards Brown. Betty graduated from Bates College in 1954 with a BA in English. Later she earned her MA in Education from Boston University and over many summers she continued to broaden and widen her education through courses at Wesleyan University.

From early on, Betty knew she wanted to teach, and she began her career in Manchester, Connecticut where she taught at the high school for 5 years before accepting a position in the English department of Lexington High School, Massachusetts. There she taught advanced English classes to juniors and seniors. Betty loved teaching and was especially proud of having mentored 18 student teachers during her twenty years at Lexington. As she liked to say, they kept her on her toes with their enthusiasm and fresh ideas. In those years, she won the admiration of her colleagues and was proud of the enduring friendships she had made. After she retired, she and her late husband Joseph Flagg moved in 1985 to Falmouth, where they had summered and sailed since 1968. 

Married for 43 years, Betty and Joe, an avid sailor, spent many happy times day-sailing and cruising. Besides being first mate, Betty also found time to become active in the community, serving on several committees and volunteering to tutor students who needed mentoring. She was also a devoted caretaker to her mother and later, over many years, to her husband. Betty spent her final years living at Southport in Mashpee and became a member of the Waquoit Congregational Church.

Betty was an accomplished skier, a patient sailor, a passionate book and music lover, a lifelong fan of the Patriots, and a talented and tireless gardener. She earned several awards from the Garden Club to which she belonged and was justifiably proud of having helped maintain the beautiful gardens at the Falmouth Historical Society. She was also a lover of animals and was devoted to her pets, especially to Aussie and Tiny. Betty leaves no family but is survived by dear friends and the many caring nurses and aides who made her final days peaceful and comfortable.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1 pm at the Waquoit Congregational church. Burial will be private. 

Contributions in her memory may be made to Caring Hospice Services of Cape Cod, 11 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062.