Helen Flaherty

Helen Florence McCabe Flaherty, 83, died Tuesday morning after a fall. A vigil service will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. A funeral liturgy will be held on Monday, July 22, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Anns Cathedral. Inurnment will immediately follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.The daughter of Helen ODay McCabe and George Nicholas McCabe, she was born in Great Falls on October 15, 1929 and raised in Cut Bank.She was a spunky gal as well as a cancer survivor.After graduating in 1951 from the University of St. Catherines in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in Political Science, Helen married James Joseph Flaherty, Jr. and settled in Great Falls where they raised five children.Flossie (so nicknamed by her Diamond Jim) was an active community member. She gave her time and talents to Galerie Trinitas, Charles M Russell Museum, University of Great Falls Womens Guild, American Association of University Women, and Camp Fire Girls. She also enjoyed the camaraderie of her bridge clubs and book club. Helen had a strong Catholic faith and a special affection for her parish at St. Anns Cathedral.Over the years she enthusiastically served in a variety of support roles to the Cathedral:leading tours, ironing altar linens, being a Eucharistic minister, cleaning the stained glass windows, and helping with funeral receptions. Helen and Jim loved traveling; Dad planned and they both enjoyed! We fondly recall tales of their trips to Ireland to meet more Flahertys; to Italy with dear friends, George and Colleen Campanella; walking along the Great Wall of China, touring Ephesus in Turkey; and a super highlight, the 1993 Flaherty Family River Ratsfloat trip down the Missouri River!Mom loved music and enjoyed the Community Concert series and the Great Falls Symphony for decades.We remember her tickling the ivories with Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue.Her tap dance and pottery classes with good friends Diane Gelernter and Bert Cooney created lots of laughter for all of us!As Fortnightly members Mom and Dad could really cut a rug; their dancing dazzled us.Helens family afforded her and Jim much joy over the years.She nurtured her children and 14 grandchildren, including cheering them in their endeavors and baking dozens of Grandmas Chocolate Cookies and Chocolate Feathered Puddings! Helen is survived by her brother George N. McCabe (Connie) of Great Falls, her children Nora Flaherty-Gray (Randall Gray), Great Falls; Colleen Biehl (Randall), Missoula; Stacy Flaherty (Marc Ledbetter), Portland; Kevin (JoAnn), Spokane; Michael (Valerie), Great Falls; and grandchildren Jason (Linda Barrera), Ian and Spencer Gray; Molly, Daniel, Eric and Heidi Biehl; Julia and Meredith Ledbetter; Sean (Cassie), Katherine and Megan Flaherty; and Liam and Ciara Flaherty; andgreat grandchildren Reagan Flaherty and Ismael Gray.She was preceded in death by her husband, sister, Mary Ann McCabe Theobald, and parents.Donations can be sent to the C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13th St. No., Great Falls, MT59401 and St. Anns Cathedrals Restoration Fund, 715 3rd Ave. No., Great Falls, MT 59401.