Linda Mary Flaherty
1950 - 2024
Linda was born on August 20th, 1950, in Sterling, Colorado to Martha Bell Flaherty (Hickerson) William Anthony Flaherty. She was the second eldest of five siblings, with two sisters Rachel and Patricia, and two brothers Bill and Bob. Linda grew up in Sterling until the family moved to Brighton, CO in 1966. She spent her last two years of high school in Brighton and graduated from Brighton High in 1968.
After high school, Linda attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing where she obtained a Nursing degree on May 28th, 1971, and received certification as an Emergency Nurse in 1983. She worked as a nurse in Brighton until the early 1990's.
Linda met Jerry Shea in Early 1971 through a mutual friend, Nancy Fox. They became engaged in September and were married on December 1st, 1972. They had three children: Jeremy, Anne, and Daniel.
She later married Amedeo "Mickey" Vittorelli on July 18th, 1992.
Linda was fiercely loyal to her friends and family. Consistent with her desire to care for and support others, she was an advocate for equity and justice everywhere she went. Linda loved so many things about her life. She was an avid gardener, growing four o'clocks, strawberries and columbines among other plants. She was an animal lover, specifically enjoying the company of many cats and dogs throughout her life, most recently that of her two cats George and Gracie.
She was also enamored with the majestic and noble nature of Camels.
Linda loved celebrating the beauty and diversity of life which in younger years meant playing guitar and singing folk songs until the early morning hours, playing cards, and telling stories. As time passed, she loved spending time visiting over coffee with her grandchildren, watching them grow and hearing about their lives.
Linda was always known to express a desire for people to exert free will and independence to thrive, often citing these philosophies born of the era of "Good hair and better music". She enjoyed her final years talking and connecting with her sister Patricia and her lifelong friends Nancy Fox and Sandy Reiley.
Linda is survived by her sister Patricia (Flaherty) Dennis and her husband Richard, brothers Bill Flaherty and Bob Flaherty, her children Jeremy Shea, Anne Feyen and Daniel Shea, and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother Martha Flaherty, her father William Flaherty, and her sister Rachael Oberon.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the following organizations:
Malley Transitional Care Center
401 Malley Drive Northglenn, CO 80233 303-452-4700
Dignity Hospice
400 East 84th Avenue Thornton, CO 80229 720-222-3315