It is with great affection and sadness that we share the passing of William “Bill” Flaherty,

84 of Forty Fort, who left us on December 4, 2025, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

His family gathered to surround him with love and comfort as he prepared for his next

journey.

Bill grew up in Hudson, Plains, Pa, the second of six sons born to William and Julia

Marchlinski Flaherty. He attended his early grades at St. Joseph's Catholic school

before moving on to graduate from Plains High School. After graduation he served in

the United States Army during the Vietnam era. Bill was subsequently employed at the

International Color Press (making colored funny pages for newspapers), Carter Rubber

Footwear, and 25 years at the Wilkes-Barre VA Hospital.

Bill appreciated the simple joys in life; good company, a ball game on the tv, a cold beer,

time spent with family, and trips to try his luck at the casino. Bill was a natural storyteller,

sharing jokes and wit with anyone lucky enough to cross his path. If you are a worker in

the area and you were told to “take the rest of the day off with pay” for your help, you’ve

probably met Bill. His impish personality growing up yielded many entertaining tales

which regaled the family for years to come.

He appreciated travel, visiting Canada, Florida, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Tennessee,

and numerous trips to Atlantic City. A particular highlight was attending the Notre

Dame-Navy game in Dublin, Ireland. He was an ardent fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers,

Pirates, and Notre Dame. He had talent in growing plants and flowers from working at

Perdel’s Farm as a kid earning 25 cents an hour. Bill was a member of the Donegal

Society, thoroughly enjoying the people and events.

Bill is reunited with his wife of 57 years, Betty Snee Flaherty who passed in May 2025,

his parents, brother, Thomas and his wife Henrietta “Cookie” Flaherty, sister-in-law

Margaret “Peggy” Flaherty, sister Geraldine who passed in infancy, and in-laws, Thomas

and Patricia Hoskins. William is survived by his daughter, Erin, Forty Fort, with whom

he resided, brothers Francis Flaherty, Wilkes-Barre, Martin Flaherty, Hudson, Joseph

Flaherty, Hudson, Michael Flaherty and wife Carol, Warrior Run, nieces, nephews and

extended family. Pups Finn, Seamus, Pip and especially Ducky will surely miss his

liberal dispersal of treats. Bill will be missed terribly but will live on through the love and

numerous memories that he gave us. Thanks for the laughs, Billy!

Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Yanaitis

Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark St., Plains Township. A funeral service will follow at noon.

Interment will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.