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Mary Agnes (Lahart) Flattery, 94, of Newton, passed away Monday, April 26, 2021, at MercyMedical Center in Des Moines. A funeral mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A rosary will be said at 5 p.m. Friday, April 30 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory followed immediately by a visitation from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be left for Sacred Heart parish in Newton or St. Patrick’s parish in Georgetown. The family respectfully requests masks be worn at the visitation and service and that everyone practices social distancing.
Mary, the daughter of Edward and Mary Ellen (Judge) Lahart, was born Nov. 16, 1926, on a family farm west of Lovilla. Mary graduated from St. Patrick’s School in Georgetown in 1944 and then attended Teachers College at William Penn in Oskaloosa. Mary’s first teaching position was at Tyrone Rural School.
Mary was united in marriage to Eugene (Gene) Flattery Oct. 16, 1952, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Georgetown. Gene and Mary made their first home in Monroe before making their permanent home in Newton in 1954. Mary worked briefly at Maytag and then worked in the Aurora Heights Elementary School lunchroom for 25 years before retiring. She was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mary enjoyed bowling and belonged to several bowling leagues over the years. She loved playing cards with her friends, gardening, canning and caring for her flowers.
The lights of her life were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They brought so much joy to her.
Mary is survived by her sons, Dennis Flattery of Melrose and Chris (Linda) Flattery of Carroll; and her daughter, Marcia (Flattery) Graber of Newton; grandchildren, Alicia (Mike) Mohr of Ankeny and Matt (Ashley) Graber of West Des Moines; step-grandchildren, Paul Lerssen of Carroll and Tami (Dusty) Elston of Clarion; great-grandchildren, Maddex, Merrik and McGwire Mohr; and step-great-grandchildren, Kylie Lerssen, Alexis Lerssen, Gaige Lerssen and Rillie Elston; and siblings, Joe (Ethel) Lahart and Teresa Lahart of Albia.
Mary was proceeded in death by her loving husband, Gene Flattery; parents, Edward and Mary Lahart; and brothers, Walter Lahart of LaCrosse, Wis., and Raymond Lahart of Albia.