Elsie Flynn Walker, age 79 years, of Delaware Township, NJ, died on Friday, October 1, 2021 at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born in Elizabeth, NJ, February 28, 1942, daughter of the late John M. and Elizabeth Ida Daly Flynn, Elsie was raised in Elizabeth and Clark, NJ, having lived in Rahway and South Plainfield, NJ for many years prior to moving to Delaware Township in 1985.

A genuine, loving soul, Elsie will be forever remembered as a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, friend and a caring and passionate educator of animals.

Her story begins with a strong catholic educational foundation that allowed Elsie to ground herself during a time in which change was at every corner. Graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Elizabeth, NJ in 1960, she would soon meet John Walker through a mutual friend, and the two would begin a courtship that would result in their joining hands in marriage on September 1, 1962 at St. John’s Church, Clark, NJ.

Their union would make Elsie a mother three times, with Teresa arriving first and then soon after Christopher and Kathleen would round out the family. John and Elsie agreed early on in their marriage that the kids would have her there for them, so she did not work in the early years of the marriage and focused on making the Walker household one where love was the foundation. Teresa, Christopher and Kathleen all fondly recall their mother as always being there for them with a listening ear and a keen ability to allow them to learn and grow in all their endeavors.

Elsie and John loved being parents and they enjoyed traveling and spent many fond times in Cape May. Sadly, after twenty-six years of marriage, John died suddenly on March 2, 1989. Elsie, always resilient, did not retreat into a dark corner but rather lead her young family forward, finding hope in her faith and strength in the love of family and friends.

It was after John’s passing that Elsie dove head first into a passion she had developed several years earlier when the couple brought ‘Heidi’, a German Shepard puppy, into the family. Heidi, being somewhat unruly, needed training and Elsie found a local trainer to bring her to; well, little did everyone realize that Elsie’s natural teaching abilities, coupled with her love of dogs, would begin a new career that would last the rest of her life.

Elsie’s persona of calmness and compassion, along with her ability to make anyone, human or otherwise feel comfortable, led her to be given the business she first brought Heidi too when the owner retired. She renamed it Heidihaus Dog Training School and it quickly became one of the most recognized and well-regarded schools in Central New Jersey.

Elsie was fond of working with beginner dogs and their owners as she loved to see the bond that developed between the pair. She always said that starting the dogs off right, with a good foundation, was the best gift an owner could give their pet. She was currently the owner and operator of Hunterdon K-9 Center in Flemington, NJ, and was proud of the thousands of pets she helped pass the K-9 Good Citizen class over the years.

She would also become involved in competitions and was involved with many canine organizations over the years including Town & Country Dog Training Club, where she served as President, the Princeton Dog Training Club, the Mid-Jersey Companion Dog Training Club, and she was a leader and instructor with the Somerset County 4-H Dog Project from 1980-1992.

The famous author Antoine de Saint-Exupery once wrote, “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” As a teacher, Elsie knew in the depths of her heart what that saying truly meant and therefore she poured her heart and soul into being a responsible and genuine trainer.

Her pride for her family also fell under this umbrella of being responsible for the next generation, and she was so proud to be a mother and grandmother. Her legacy of devotion, genuineness, compassion, and faith surely lives on through who all felt the touch of her love, both human and canine.

In addition to her husband, John, and her parents, Ida and John, she was preceded in death by her brother, John E. Flynn as well as by countless pets whom she loved and cared for with her whole self.

Surviving are her children, Teresa E. Walker, Christopher and his wife, Joanie Walker, and Kathleen A. Walker; her grandchildren, John and Gabriella Walker; her sister-in-law, Lucille Flynn; her niece, Lisa A. Flynn Blair and her husband, Gregory Blair; her canine companions, Herbie, Sheldon, and Parker; several extended family members; and the many friends and canine companions she made over the years.

Elsie will lie in repose on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. There will be an additional period of visitation on Friday, October 8, 2021 from 9:15-9:45 a.m. at the funeral home.

Given the fact that Elsie was a beloved dog trainer for many years, anyone wishing to bring their well-behaved dog to pay respects during the viewing is welcome.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli will take place on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford.

Following mass, Elsie will be buried next to her beloved husband, John, at Resurrection Cemetery, 899 East Lincoln Avenue, Piscataway, NJ, 08854.

You are encouraged to visit Elsie’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to make  a contribution to the Walker Memorial Fund which will help the family with final medical and other expenses, with any additional monies being put in a college scholarship fund for her beloved grandchildren; contributions may be made by clicking HERE. Any amount is much appreciated and for those who wish to mail a check, please make the check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Elsie Walker’ in the memo, and mailing to ‘In Memory Of’, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

____________________________

Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”