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Mrs. Irene H. (Anderson) Flaherty, 80, of Canton MA and formerly of Franklin MA died Wednesday (March 26, 2025) at the Hellenic Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Canton MA after a period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul B. Flaherty who died in 2011.
Irene was born in Newton MA, the daughter of the late William L. Anderson Jr. and the late Alice H. (Bernabei) Anderson. She was a graduate of Newton North High School, Class of 1962 and also a graduate of Boston College, Class of 1966. Later in life, after raising her young children she attained her master’s degree in education from the former Framingham State College, now known as Framingham State University.
Irene was first employed as a young woman as a second grade school teacher. Following her marriage to her late husband Paul and raising her young daughters she became a full-time substitute teacher for the Franklin MA public school system, working there for many years. After that she was employed as a sales associate at the Home Goods Store located in Milford MA, from which she retired after working over twenty years.
Irene had been a resident of Franklin MA since 1978 and moved to Canton MA these last few years. She was an avid & competitive cross stitcher and had received numerous awards for her accomplished work as a cross stitcher.
Irene is survived by her 2 daughters: Karen A. Bell and her husband James Bell of Canton MA and Rachel Flaherty and her longtime companion Andre Ortiz of Brooklyn NY; her 3 granddaughters: Veronica Grace Bell of Canton MA, Sabrina Catherine Bell of Canton MA and Alyssa Marie Ortiz of Brooklyn NY; her brother: Robert Anderson of Randolph NJ; also several nieces & nephews.
Irene was the sister of the late William G. Anderson and the late David Anderson.
Her funeral will be held TUESDAY (April 1st) at 9am from the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, 44 Congress Street, Milford MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Mary of the Assumption Church (LOWER CHURCH), 19 Winter Street, Milford MA. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland MA.
Visiting hours will be held SUNDAY (March 30th) from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home. The family requests that you wear a piece of “red clothing” and/or some colorful socks to coincide with Irene’s love for the color “red” and her cheerful outlook on life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Heart Association, 93 Worcester Street, Wellesley MA 02481 or to The Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 320 Nevada Street, Suite #201, Newton MA 02460.
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