Sister Mary Grace O'Flaherty

Sister Mary Grace O'Flaherty went gently into the arms of God on February 24, 2026. She was born in Ballyduff, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, to Matthew and Anne O'Flaherty. Sr. Grace was the youngest of nine children, the seventh daughter, born on January 31, 1932 and entered the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn in 1951. She was predeceased by her siblings, Bridget Dalton, Mary Ellen Thompson, Anne (Nance), Boyle, Eileen Amos, Patrick Flaherty, William Flaherty, Kathleen Flaherty and Betty Goulding. Sr. Mary Grace is survived by her niece Sr. Clare Marie Dalton, RSM (Sacramento) and by her many other nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.

Education was always a priority for Sister Mary Grace. She served in multiple schools in the Diocese of Sacramento throughout her early years of ministry. In 1965 she was called to serve at Immaculate Heart Convent in Ardfert, County Kerry to invite young women to join the Sisters in Auburn. Sister Mary Grace's love for religious life made her an effective and enthusiastic vocation minister.

In 1985, she embraced a new ministry as Coordinator of Volunteers both at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA and at Methodist Hospital in Sacramento. She saw this ministry as a providential gift which put her in deeper touch with people and with God.

Reception of the body/vigil service will be held on Monday March 2nd at 3:00pm at the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA 95603. The funeral liturgy will take place the following morning at 11:00am at the Convent. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Citrus Heights. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made in her memory to the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, 535 Sacramento Street, Auburn, CA. 95603 or to Mercy Foundation's Catholic Education Fund by visiting supportmercyfoundation.org or by mailing a check to Mercy Foundation, 3400 Data Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.