Dorothy Flaherty

Dorothy M. Flaherty (nee Zimmerman), age 89, of Lorain, died on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at her home while under the care of New Life Hospice. She was born on September 15, 1920 in Lorain and has lived here her entire life. She graduated from Lorain St. Mary High School in 1938. Dorothy had worked as a receptionist at the optometrist office of Dr. Robert B. Miller in Lorain for many years. She was a member of Mary Mother of God Catholic Church in Lorain. Dorothy was skilled in sewing, crocheting and general craftwork, through which she created many treasured keepsakes for her loved ones. She loved nature, animals and spending time with her family and friends. Dorothy Flaherty was a person of great strength, love, compassion and joy that illuminated all around her through her many acts of kindness and her joyous laughter. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. She is survived by her sons, Kevin (Patty), of Cranberry Twp., PA, Tom, of Lorain; her daughters, Patty (Ed) Petronski, of Algonac, MI, Rosanne (Tim) Jackson, of Oberlin, Peggy (Tim) Wilkins, of Elyria, Mary (Klaus) Grm, of Amherst, and Sharon Flaherty, of Lakewood; son-in-law, Rob Rebman, of Amherst, and daughter-in-law, Karen Flaherty, of Vermilion; Grandchildren, Erin Weightman, Carly Palumbo, Conor Flaherty, Ryan Markey, Jenni Markey, David Flaherty, Paul, Joe and Jim Petronski, Kelly Jackson, Patty Wallace, Will, Maggie, Patty and Sean Wilkins, Meghan Garrard, Skyler Grm, Jackie Sivik and Ryan Rebman; and 13 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Sr. Gladys Zimmerman, OSF, and Catherine Wargo, both of New York, and Alma Ensign of Avon Lake; and sister-in-law, Rosemary Zimmerman. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Francis James in 1944 and her second husband, William in 1994, her son, William John, Jr., in 1986, parents, John and May (nee Andrews) Zimmerman and her brothers, Fr. Damien Zimmerman, OFM, and Tom Zimmerman. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst. Funeral services will be on Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in Mary Mother of God Church, Lorain. Fr. James R. Becherer, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. Contributions, if desired, may be made to New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Rd., Elyria, OH 44035 or St. Mary's Food Pantry, 309 West 7th St., Lorain, OH 44052.