The date and publisher of this newspaper obituary was not recorded but had a hand written date of 1955.

Mrs. Grace Maher, 84, Is Dead-Well Known Woman Was Aid To Many During Lifetime

Mrs. Grace Maher, a well-known woman who took an active part in welfare work in Blair a score of years ago, passed away at the Blair Hospital last Thursday, January 6th. She was 84 years of age.

Advanced age had forced her to curtail her activities in recent years, but her efforts are still remembered by hundreds who found her home and her heart a haven of refuge when going was hard.

During the depression of the thirties and prior to that, before an established county welfare program had come into reality, Mrs. Maher took a personal interest in the welfare of those who found themselves in stringent circumstances.

She carried on her work, often aiding a dozen or more per day, mostly out of her own funds and through her own efforts. She made many sacrifices that she might be of assistance to others and there are dozens of families in Blair and vicinity who, in less prosperous times, have received things to eat and garments to wear through the efforts of Mrs. Maher.

Mrs. Maher was born in Blair, December 3rd, 1870. She spent her entire life here and gave much to her community.

She was the only child of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Hays, both whom have passed away when she was but an infant and she was raised as a foster child in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fox.

In 1888 she was married to James E. Maher, of Blair and to this union thirteen children were born. All but four have preceded her in death. Her husband died in 1926.

Survivors are Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon, Sr., Mrs. John Leehy, James Maher and Margaret Maher; there are twenty-three grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren also surviving.

The Rosary was recited Friday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Leehy. Requiem High Mass was held Saturday morning, January 8th at St. Francis Borgia Church by Father Edward O’/Donnell. Interment was made in the Holy Cross Cemetery at Blair.

Pallbearers were Reed O’Hanlon, Jr., Robert O’Hanlon, Clark O’Hanlon, Jack Leehy, James Leehy, and William Samson.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.