The world lost a truly delightful person when Clara Flaherty Wheatley passed away on Sep 27, 2018. Clara had a great sense of humor and was just plain funny. Friends and family loved to be in her company because she brought a light-hearted slant to every situation and used laughter to bring comfort to everyone she encountered.
Clara was a fabulous cook. She learned her skills from her mother whose cooking was legendary in the East Wheeling neighborhood. Neither woman ever used a recipe, and both were so generous in sharing the fruits of their labors with family and friends. If you went to Clara’s home, you were always welcomed with a huge spread of home cooked food – all mouthwatering. Later in life she accepted positions outside her home and highlighted her pastry-making skills as the baker at the Suzi-Q and Dawn’s Delights bakeries. Creating delicious pies, cakes, pepperoni rolls, and specialty cookies fell easily into her bailiwick.
Clara was a style maven. From the time she quit school at the age of fifteen to support herself until her last few years at Forest Hill assisted living center, her fashi8on sense was always ahead of the curve – perfectly coiffed hair, lots of jewelry and scarves, of course some funky nail polish, and Lularoe patterned tights at 94 years old.
Clara was a dancer. And she took every opportunity she could to shore up that skill. From her teenage hangout spots with her sisters, to the dance floor at the nearby Warwood Veteran’s Club, to the dance floor at Yale University at her oldest grandsons wedding, Clara always caught your eye when she took the floor. She even danced at Forest Hill nursing home to the delight of her nurses. If you gave her a big band tune or a good Barry Manilow song she would be on her feet.
But most of all Clara was a caregiver. It was in her nature to identify and care for those who were in need. Clearly her caring began by raising six daughters. After those years she visited and cooked for a variety of friends and family who lived alone. Her vibrant personality (and yes her cooking skills) brightened the day of many people in her life at their time of need.
Clara was born on Mar 22, 1924 and was 94 years old at the time of her passing. She was one of seven children of Emma Taylor Flaherty and Michael Flaherty. She was married to Donald L Wheatley for 62 years until the time of his death in 2009. She and Don lived in Warwood for most of their married years and raised six daughters there: Paula Flaherty who lives in Charleston with her husband Tom, Mariclaire Stancoven who lives in Wheeling, Dawn Bonenberger who lives in Wheeling with her husband Brian, Erin Fonner who lives in Wheeling with her husband Terry, Colleen Konyak who lives in Elwood City, PA with her husband Joe, and Arlene Hutchinson who lives in Perryopolis, PA with her husband Scott.
There are numerous grandchildren who will fondly cherish Clara’s memory: Ian Flaherty and his wife Joan Vollero, Colin Flaherty and his wife Elizabeth, Chris Stancoven, Shannon Cuniak and her husband Jon, Adam Bonenberger, Ryan Fonner, Evan Fonner and Courtney Goodrich, Abigail Konyak and Kyle Konyak. Her great grandchildren include: Jackson Flaherty, Emerson Falherty, Francesca Flaherty, Kieran Flaherty, Kaitlyn Cuniak, Tyler Cuniak, Aubrey Cuniak, and baby boy Fonner to be born in December.
Friends may call on Sat, Oct 6 at Kepner Funeral Home, 166 Kruger St from 3:30-4:30 pm and are invited to a celebration of Clara’s life beginning at 6pm on Sat at SpringHill Suites Hotel 908 National Rd.