Nora A. (Howard) Flaherty

Nora A. (Howard) Flaherty, age 93, a long-time resident of Wilmington, passed away on September 23, 2023.

Nora was born on September 20, 1930, in Galway, Ireland; she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ellen (Moloney) Howard.  Nora was raised and educated in Ireland; she immigrated to the United States in 1948 at the young age of eighteen.

Nora met her husband, the late William J. Flaherty, “Bill”, at an Irish dance in Roxbury.  The couple dated for a few years before getting married in 1957.  Nora and Bill lived in the city before settling in Wilmington in 1965, where they raised their two daughters, Ann, and Linda. The family shared many wonderful memories before Bill’s passing in 2021.

Nora worked at as a Nurse’s Aid when she came to the United States.  She worked at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, where she specialized in working with children who contracted polio.  Later in her nursing career, Nora took a position at the New England Rehabilitation Center.  She enjoyed working with patients and her nursing colleagues.  After several years, Nora retired.

In her spare time, Nora enjoyed reading. She loved to go shopping with her daughters and grandchildren.  Nora looked forward to taking trips with the Wilmington Recreation Department; she had a great time traveling and making many friendships along the way.

Nora was the beloved wife of the late William J. Flaherty, devoted mother of Ann Stockton & her late husband Robert of Tewksbury and Linda Caruso of Gardner, loving “Nana” of Kimberly, Caitlin, Sean, and Matthew, “Great-Nana” of Adeline, Emer, and Juniper, cherished daughter of the late Thomas and Ellen (Moloney) Howard, dear sister of Ann McNamara of Chicago and the late John Howard.  Nora is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.         

Family and friends will gather at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington on Friday, September 29th at 9:00 a.m. immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Dorothy’s Church, Main St., (Rte. 38), Wilmington at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.  Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, September 28th from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Memorial donations in Nora’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA  02452.