Joseph Flaherty

Joseph Anthony Flaherty, 64, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died Friday, September 17, 2021. He was born April 8, 1957, to Bernardine DiLorenzo Flaherty and raised in Newport News, Virginia. Joe called Salt Lake City home since 2002.

After graduating high school, Joe attended what is now Christopher Newport University in Newport News for a few years. For the past couple of years, he attended Saint Andrew Parish in Riverton, Utah, where he very much appreciated Fr. Joseph Delka’s spiritual guidance and caring heart.

Joe’s favorite meal was bacon-wrapped pork ribs and oven-roasted mushrooms, which his live-in personal aide fixed for him almost monthly for years. He loved watching TV, especially newsmagazines like 20/20 and Dateline and reruns of Law & Order: SVU and NCIS. His favorite movies he loved watching over and over include The Day After Tomorrow, Flight of The Phoenix, The Martian, The Shawshank Redemption, Unstoppable and What About Bob?

Joe was as generous and gracious as he possibly could have been. He didn’t have much, but he enthusiastically shared what he did have with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (who operate EWTN) and Saint Andrew’s.

Joe was beset by severe anxiety from the age of three when he and his babysitter were chased by Dalmatians – he never recovered from that. Anxiety essentially kept Joe homebound except for necessary expeditions like banking, shopping, etc.

Preceded in death by his mother in September 2005. Survived by his personal aide since 2009, Scott Christian Bauer.

Per Joe’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Interment will take place at Valley View Memorial Park located at 4400 West 4100 South in West Valley City, Utah on Friday, September 24, 2021. Roman Catholic burial rites will be administered immediately before burial.