Enjoyed trips to Ogunquit beach

Published in the June 1, 2018 edition

MELROSE — Lorraine Theresa (Dargan) Flaherty, 74, passed away after a lengthy illness, at the Elmhurst Nursing Home in Melrose, MA on May 23, 2018. Born in Cambridge on February 4, 1944 to the late George and Mary (Hurley) Dargan. Lorraine was raised in Cambridge and Medford and graduated from St. Mary of the Annunciation Grammar School in Cambridge and Medford High School.  

She was a resident of Melrose for over 45 years. Following high school, Mrs. Flaherty worked for the City of Medford’s Welfare Department and later was a medical transcriptionist, working for several doctors and hospitals throughout the Boston area. She was a long time parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Melrose where she spent many years volunteering in the rectory and was a member of the Lady’s Sodality.  

She was a loving wife and a dedicated mother and grandmother who cherished times spent with her family. Lorraine especially enjoyed trips to Ogunquit beach and was an avid connoisseur of Maine lobster. She enjoyed traveling later in her life, especially to the Western part of the United States and locally to Foxwoods. She was a doting grandmother and faithfully babysat all of her grandchildren until they went to school.

She loved spending her Saturdays at yard sales with her longtime friend, Eileen Sayegh.

Lorraine was the beloved wife of Paul M. Flaherty for over 52 years. She was the devoted mother of Brian M. Flaherty and his wife Lynn of Dracut and Meaghan E. Flaherty and her wife Brenda, of Malden.

Lorraine was the cherished grandmother of Kevin, Erin, Declan, Caitlin, and Brendan Flaherty of Dracut and the loving sister of Mariene Benoit of Wells, Maine, John Dargan of Melrose, Bernadine Wall and her husband John of Medford, Joan Dargan of England, the late George Dargan, and the late Frances Hicks. She also leaves behind her former sister-in-law Alicia Dargan of Stoneham, and brothers-in-law William Hicks, Sr. of Valrico, Fla., and John Flaherty and his companion Rose Kinnett of Winthrop. She was pre-deceased by her sister-in-law Mary Flaherty.

She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visiting hours were held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Wednesday, May 30. Funeral procession from the Gately Funeral Home on Thursday, May 31, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert St., Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary’s School, 4 Myrtle St., Melrose, MA 02176. To send a message of condolence please visit gatelyfh.com.