Mary Alice Eleanor (Duffy) Flathers

FALMOUTH — Mary Alice Eleanor (Duffy) Flathers, 91, of Falmouth, formerly of Bridgton, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, at Falmouth By the Sea in Falmouth, surrounded by her family. Eleanor was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada on March 6, 1922, the eldest of five children of John and Georgia Duffy.

Eleanor moved to Dorchester, Mass. at an early age and attended Dorchester schools. In 1943, she married George W. Flathers of Leominster, Mass. after his return home from WW II. They raised their five children in Leominster before retiring and moving to Bridgton, Maine in 1976. George and Eleanor developed a love for Maine while summering each year at Vicki Lynn Campground on Long Lake in Bridgton.

Eleanor was blessed to be a homemaker and loved raising their five children, preparing wicked good meals and desserts. An artist at heart, she also enjoyed creating oil paintings, hooked rugs, and needlework, and became a gifted quilter. Her quilts won her many ribbons at local and regional quilt shows and she taught workshops on quilting throughout Maine. She designed quilts for all of her children and grandchildren as wedding gifts.

In Leominster, Eleanor was president of the Julie Country Day School PTA, a communicant of St. Leo’s Parish, and a member of Oak Hill Country Club and the Hospital Guild. In Bridgton she was a member of the St. Joseph's Women's Guild, and was a founding member and past President of the Chickadee chapter of the Maine State Quilters Guild.

Her husband George, her brother Murray Duffy, and her sisters Doris Craffey and Barbara Pierro preceded Eleanor in death. She is survived by her sister Mildred Duffy Waldron; her daughter Maureen Johnson and her husband Steve of Harrison; daughter Sheila Flathers of Old Orchard Beach; son George W. Flathers, II and his wife Jenifer of Rixeyville, Va.; her daughter Kerry Flathers of Lancaster, Mass.; and son Sean Flathers and his wife Beth of Cape Elizabeth. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A  Mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Bridgton, followed by interment at North Bridgton Cemetery. Visitation was held Monday morning from 9–10 a.m. at Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 8 Elm St., Bridgton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Post Polio Support Group of Maine, c/o 674 Hallowell-Litchfield Road, West Gardiner, ME 04345, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com