Rita Marie Vessell Flaherty, age 86, of Evanston, formerly of Wilmette, born Ste. Genevieve daughter of Richard Emil Vessell, raised by grandparents James and Bridget Moore.
Beloved wife of the late and devoted Patrick D. Flaherty Sr; loving mother of Patrick Daniel Jr., Margaret Myra and Stephen Richard Flaherty (Nicole); cherished grandmother of Madison Elizabeth, Patrick Daniel III and Mary Casey Flaherty, Finn and Isla Flaherty, Morgan and Patrick Lewis, Christopher Madrid and O’Ryan & Jamie Flaherty; loving sister of Flora (Douglas) Torrie, Mark (Jane) Vessell Sr. and the late Janet (nee Vessell) Gianino and the late Richard Vessell; endearing cousin to Jeanette (nee Moore) Lawrence and Lenita Moore and good friend to so many.
Rita Flaherty was a Registered Nurse working as a Nursing Supervisor at Skokie Valley Community Hospital from shortly after its official dedication in 1963 through its rededication as Rush North Shore Medical Center in 1987.
Member of St. Joseph’s Church of Wilmette, staunch supporter of women’s rights, she will be missed by her nursing associates Betty Welland and Kathy Witt and so many more.
Visitation Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, receiving visitors as early as 3pm.
Funeral Thursday, November 30, 2023, departing 10:30 am from Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 to Saints Joseph & Francis Xavier Church-Saint Joseph Church, 1747 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 Mass 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110-1010 or Pearl of Evanston, 820 Foster Street, Evanston, IL 60201.