SOUTH PORTLAND — Elaine Millicent Flaherty, 93, died Feb. 24 at South Portland by the Sea, surrounded by family.

She was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Hollis to Laurence A. and Mildred Johnson Sawyer. She was salutatorian and a 1937 graduate of Samuel D. Hansen High School in Buxton.

She married Thomas S. Flaherty Oct. 14, 1941, at St. Dominic’s Church. 

During the next 10 years, she gave birth to seven children. In 1973 she became a licensed real estate broker, working for Harden Reality for 13 years and was the first women in the agency to reach $1 million mark in sales. She later worked part-time for Joseph C. Flaherty Insurance Agency for 14 years.

She was extremely proud of her family and felt her greatest accomplishments were a happy marriage and seven devoted children.

Flaherty was a former member of the St. Dominic’s Mothers Club; she sang in the Bishops Choir and had served as the secretary of the Portland Elks Lodge Emblem Club for many years. She was also a communicant at Holy Cross Church.

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She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Thomas S. Flaherty Sr., in 1991; a son, Timothy F. Flaherty, on Jan. 20; a sister, June L. Ross, and three brothers, Ronald M. Sawyer, Ruel W. Sawyer, Dean L. Sawyer.

Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Elaine Flaherty, of South Portland, Kathleen June Smith, and husband, Donald, of Old Orchard Beach; four sons, Thomas S. Flaherty Jr., and wife, Nancy, of Falmouth, Peter L. Flaherty, and wife, Jayne, of Old Orchard Beach, Paul C. Flaherty, and wife, Sandra, of Westbrook, John C. Flaherty and Michael R. Poulin, of South Portland; a daughter-in-law, Kathleen Flaherty, of Falmouth; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Falmouth By The Sea for the wonderful care that they gave.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Cross Church in South Portland on March 1. 

Spring burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Road, Casco, ME 04015.


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