Johanna Flaherty

Johanna Belle Russell Flaherty was born August 17, 1924. She was raised on a little farm in Illinois. She lived with her 2 sisters, Charlotte and Helen along with her parents Alta & Charlie Russell. She went to an on room school where all the grades were in the same classroom.

Because of possibly being slightly dyslexic, Johanna Belle, as her friends and family called her, did not enjoy reading. Dad said he saw her read only one book the entire time they were married. It was a book that Colleen had given them to read about spirituality. When she was in high school, they moved to Assumption, Illinois; a small farming community. She went to beauty school after graduating from high school and worked as a beauty operator most of her adult life. If you knew her, you know that she would always comment on how your hair looked, whether it was good or bad.

She met Jack Flaherty when they were both 12. She knew immediately that he was the one she was going to marry, and he apparently did too, as he wrote a little poem in her autograph book that said he felt the same way. They were married about 9 years later. They had 3 children, Greg, Colleen & Dan. They have 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, so far. 

They were married for nearly 60 years when dad died; she missed him every day. Mom has been waiting, and looking forward to seeing our dad and our brother Greg, who died from a brain tumor in 1987. She also looked forward to seeing all of her family who had gone before her, and of course Jesus and Mary.

When our dad was sick, one day we talked about death, and mom voiced a concern about her not going to heaven. Dad told her, “Jo, if you don’t go to heaven, none of us will.” Dad said that mom was the nicest person he had ever known.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening (with a Rosary to begin at seven o’clock ), on Wednesday, the 12th of November 2014, at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, the family kindly asks donations be made to Hospice Austin.

http://www.hospiceaustin.org/get-involved/donate/