December 11 1930 - August 18 2021

Our Mother was a formidable woman, a woman of strength and excellence.

Mary was first generation Irish, raised humbly on the south side of Chicago during the depression. Throughout her life she cherished her Irish roots, friends and family. Her young life revolved around her parish and brothers.

One night at a parish dance she met Joe Clark, handsome and a good dancer, she took a chance. They married days after he returned from the Korean War and were married 57 years. The song she remembered my Dad by was "There were bells in the hills but I never heard them ringing til there was you".

As a young couple, in their salad days, Mom worked industriously with Dad to save enough money to buy a house. During this time they made friends that have lasted a lifetime.

Mom then started her family. They would become the focus of her life, 5 little girls born 2 years apart growing up in a bungalow in Dolton. Mom's strength now focused on making each of us the best person we could be, the energy expounded on us was phenomenal!

This is not to say that Mary shorted her parish, St Jude any of her talents or commitments. Her fundraising throughout her life was legendary. She was especially proud of "Ports of Call" events.

Mary grew increasing political during these years, a talent she had learned young from her father, Martin Flaherty. She worked diligently up through her 80's to get many fine men elected. Her daughters often wondered if she shouldn't be running herself, but that was not her era.

After raising 5 headstrong daughters to adulthood (no small feat in the 70's) she returned to work full time for Cook County. Mary rose through the ranks into management and had a skill for finding people good jobs, she was especially proud when able to create job programs for the older worker and physically challenged.

Later in life she got to travel and see the world, Ireland of course being her favorite country to visit. She arranged a trip for all her daughters and Joe to tour Ireland and meet the Irish relatives in 1990. Trip of a lifetime.

I do believe that Mary's favorite place to be was her dining room table, surrounded by her husband, daughters and grandchildren, sharing a grand meal that she had prepared. She had many stories and much love to share over the years at those many gatherings. Mary's battle cry was "I am a Irish Catholic Democrat White Sox's Fan from the South Side of Chicago."

Among her last words to us were "Be kind to each other."