Patricia Flaherty

Mystic - Patricia Duggan Flaherty died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007 at her home in Mystic after fighting a year and a half battle with leukemia.

Pat was born and raised in the Westchester Co. area of New York, the only daughter of John R. Duggan. After graduating from Elmira College she began a career in fashion in Manhattan later moving to Connecticut working for G. Fox & Co. in Hartford. She met her husband Tom in Stowe, Vt., beginning a long association with both Stowe and the Hartford area.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 39 years; their son Kevin, his wife Mille and two grandchildren Elliot and Gilbert of Copenhagen, Denmark; and their daughter Elisabeth and her husband, Brendan Canning, of San Francisco, Calif.

She was a devoted mother focusing her boundless energies on her family while living in the communities of Glastonbury, West Palm Beach, Fla., McLean, Va., Stowe, Vt., and Groton Long Point. Four years ago she and Tom retired to the Mystic area, settling on Mason's Island.

Pat's love beyond family was history and early colonial fashion. She was president of the Glastonbury Historical Society, board member of the New England Historical Society and the Stonington Historical Society and member of the Hartford Architecture Conservancy, the Wadsworth Athenaeum for Costumes, the Costume Society of America, Colonial Williamsburg, and Old Sturbridge Village. She built a large personal library supporting her interest and began genealogy studies with membership in the National Genealogical Society.

She enjoyed socializing with friends in various clubs over the years that included the Mt. Mansfield Ski Club, Orchard Hills Swim Club, Glastonbury Racket Club, Groton Long Point Yacht Club, Stonington Golf Club, Mason's Island Yacht Club, and the St. James in Beaver Creek, Colo.

Her children and husband were the love of her life - a love that was returned to her in the same intensity. She wanted to thank her many friends who have supported her during her unpredictable ordeal as they made all the difference during the past many months.

Pat's family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church in Stonington on Tuesday at 11 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at the Flaherty home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute (http://www.dfci.org) or to the Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, P. O. Box 902, Uncasville CT 06382 (http://www.hospicesect.org).

For obituary information, directions, or to share a note of remembrance/condolence with her family, please visit www.dinotofuneral.com.