Kathryn Sis M. Flaherty

Kathryn M. Flaherty, also known to her older friends and family as Sis, after suffering for many years from chronic disease, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 17th. Kathryn (known then as Sis Friedman) was born, raised, and worked the earlier part of her life in Emsworth and Avalon; a 1960 graduate of Avonworth High School, where she was an award winning athlete and a majorette. She married early and, after having a son, was widowed at the age of 20; she worked for Dr. Irvin (Sony) Templeton for many years and began a decade of prominence in the Northern Boroughs. Her vivacious personality and beauty are surely remembered by a generation of Dr. Templeton’s patients, just as she is remembered for the impact she had on her archery and volleyball students at the Bellevue YMCA, where she volunteered during the Sixties. During this time, Kathryn was an award winning volleyball player who participated on a traveling YWCA Volleyball team based out Pittsburgh.

In 1970 Kathryn decided to go back to business school in order to expand her professional horizons; in 1971 she graduated from Duff’s School of Business and embarked on a career that eventually led to her leading Accounts Payable operations for several cities across the country on behalf of Control Data, one of the largest IT operations companies in business during the seventies and eighties. Kathryn’s success, both as a woman and a non-traditional professional, are testaments to her intelligence and her unrelenting resolve and work ethic. Unfortunately, the end of the eighties were not kind to Kathryn and, absent a 4 year degree, her industry moved past her and she had to reinvent herself yet again.

Kathryn’s resilience led her back to where she started and she returned to Dr. Templeton’s practice as his Practice Manager; many of her former patients from her days as a dental hygienist now brought their children in to meet this kind and outgoing person who made a visit to the dentist a better experience.

Kathryn was an accomplished artist, first in oil painting and later in ceramics, where she was a regular with the group at Divine Providence led by Sister Mary Louise. Kathryn also loved to bake and knit, the latter skill she taught to neighbors in her McCandless neighborhood.

Kathryn Flaherty loved people…she loved talking with people and people gravitated towards her; this was gift and a pleasure that she shared with her Father (David Friedman), whom she so closely resembled. Kathryn overcame many barriers and suffered more than any person should; she is best remembered as she was in her twenties, Sis Flaherty, beautiful athlete, teacher of children, friend to all, possessor of an electric smile, lover of music…forever young.

Kathryn is survived by her son, Patrick, daughter in law, Teresa, Sister, Gayle Rozum, two grandchildren, Leah and Sean, and her nephew James Rozum.

Visitation and service will be private. Arrangements by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Inc., Avalon.