William Flaherty

It is with great affection and sadness that we share the passing of William "Bill" Flaherty, 84, of Forty Fort, who left us on Dec. 4, 2025, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. His family gathered to surround him with love and comfort as he prepared for his next journey.

Bill grew up in Hudson, Plains Township, the second of six sons born to William and Julia Marchlinski Flaherty. He attended his early grades at St. Joseph's Catholic School before moving on to graduate from Plains High School. After graduation, he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. Bill was subsequently employed by the International Color Press (making colored funny pages for newspapers), Carter Rubber Footwear, and for 25 years by the Department of Veterans Affairs Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Plains Township.

Bill appreciated the simple joys in life: good company, a ball game on the TV, a cold beer, time spent with family, and trips to try his luck at the casino. Bill was a natural storyteller, sharing jokes and wit with anyone lucky enough to cross his path. If you are a worker in the area and you were told to "take the rest of the day off with pay" for your help, you've probably met Bill. His impish personality growing up yielded many entertaining tales that regaled the family for years to come.

He appreciated travel, visiting Canada, Florida, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Tennessee, and numerous trips to Atlantic City. A particular highlight was attending the Notre Dame-Navy game in Dublin, Ireland. He was an ardent fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Notre Dame. He had talent in growing plants and flowers from working at Perdel's Farm as a kid, earning 25 cents an hour. Bill was a member of the Donegal Society, thoroughly enjoying the people and events.

Bill is reunited with his wife of 57 years, Betty Snee Flaherty, who passed in May 2025; his parents; brother, Thomas, and his wife, Henrietta "Cookie" Flaherty; sister-in-law, Margaret "Peggy" Flaherty; sister, Geraldine, who passed in infancy; and in-laws, Thomas and Patricia Hoskins.

William is survived by his daughter, Erin, Forty Fort, with whom he resided; brothers, Francis Flaherty, Wilkes-Barre, Martin Flaherty, Hudson, Joseph J. Flaherty, Hudson, Michael Flaherty and wife Carol, Warrior Run; nieces, nephews, and extended family. Pups, Finn, Seamus, Pip, and especially Ducky, will surely miss his liberal dispersal of treats. Bill will be missed terribly but will live on through the love and numerous memories that he gave us. Thanks for the laughs, Billy!

Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark St., Plains Township. A funeral service will follow at noon. Interment will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.