| Rev William Flaherty |
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Rev. William Thomas Flaherty Passes Away At Home in LaFayette James Flaherty of this city, has received word of the death of his brother, Rev. William Flaherty, assistant pastor, of St. Ann's Catholic church at Lafayette. Father Flaherty was reared in Muncie and had a host of friends here. Concerning his death the Lafayette Journal of Monday says: "An illness of only twenty-four hours' duration brought the life of Rev. William Thomas Flaherty to a close last evening at 6:45 o'clock. He was stricken by pneumonia at St Ann's rectory, where he was servmg as assistant to Rev. M. J. Byrne, and was taken to St. Elizabeth hospital at 9 o'clock Saturday night. His condition was critical from the very beginning of the attack and the disease refused to yield to the most skilllul treatment. Father Flaherty met death bravely. He was conscious to the very last and calmly dictated the arrangements for his funeral. "Father Flaherty was born in Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1884. When he was a boy his parents moved to Muncie and he was reared in this state. When the decision came to enter the priesthood, he attended St. Joseph college at Rensselaer for six years and there received a classical education. He then entered St. Bernard seminary at Rochester, N. Y., and spent two years in studying philosophy and four years in studying theology. "He was ordained at Fort Wayne in June, 1909, by Bishop Alerding, and his first assignment was as assistant at St. Patrick's church in Kokomo. When Rev. Romert Pratt left Wabash to take a special course in Washington, D. C, Father Flaherty was sent to his church to act as rector until Father Pratt returned. He was then sent to St. Mary's church at Decatur as assistant and went from there to the Cathedral in Fort Wayne. He came to Lafayette last July to act as assistant to Father Byrne at St. Ann's church. "Father Flaherty is survived by his mother, Mrs. Bridget Flaherty, who lives in Pittsburg, Pa., and by two sisters, Mrs. Peter J. McArdle, of Pittsburg, and Mrs. Mary O'Connell, of Muncie. He also leaves one brother, James Flaherty, of Muncie. "The remains were taken from the hospital to the Soller-Harrington parlors to be prepared for burial. Tomorrow afternoon the body of the young priest will be placed in the sanctuary in St. Ann's church and will remain there until 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, when the solemn requiem mass will be chanted and the remains will be committed to a grave in St Mary's cemetery. While resting In the church, the body will be guarded and can be viewed by friends." |