Eileen M. Flaherty-Hesse, age 71, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at her residence of Mapleton, Iowa.
Per Eileen’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.
The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Eileen Marie Flaherty-Hesse, the daughter of Thomas Martin and Jacqueline Marie (Hall) Flaherty, was born on December 29, 1953, in Jersey City New Jersey. At the age of 5 her family moved to Hazlet, N.J. She grew up in Hazlet and received her education from Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, NJ, graduating with the class of 1971. Coming from a large Irish Catholic family she was blessed to be able to attend high school with many cousins. After high school, Eileen attended Mt. St. Mary’s College in Newburgh, New York and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Eileen will be remembered for her kindness and unwavering compassion. It always warmed her heart to help others, especially children. Shortly after college she and her college roommate wanted to spread their wings and experience something different. They moved to California where she continued her lifelong teaching career in special education. During her time there she was blessed to be able to develop lifelong friendships and experience a variety of west coast cultures by way of living in the mountains, along the coast, and in Southern California. While teaching and exploring California for 10+ years she developed a zest for travel and appreciating different cultures. Her zest for adventure and experience brought her teaching career to travel once again. She chose to spread her wings and moved to Milan, Italy to teach at The American School in Milan.
While teaching in Milan, she became fluent in Italian, and on weekends and holidays, she and her friends travelled extensively throughout Europe and beyond creating and cherishing memories. Everywhere Eileen went she made a friend. She always had that special smile and sparkle in her eye that welcomed all. We were all blessed to hear all of her stories from around the globe spending time in Italy, Ireland with relatives, England, Switzerland, France, Greece, and Thailand to name a few. It was here in Milan, she would meet her future husband, Keith Hesse. When her time in Italy was over, Eileen moved back to New Jersey but she and Keith kept in touch. The two vacationed together meeting her friends in California and upon driving back across the country, their car conveniently broke down in Mapleton, Iowa, Keith’s hometown. A position in special education opened up at Maple-Valley High School and Eileen accepted the position. On September 27, 1991, Eileen and Keith Hesse were united in marriage at the Southwood Conservation Area near Smithland, Iowa. Eileen would teach special education at Maple-Valley High School and MVAO High School until her retirement in 2013.
Eileen was an avid reader since childhood, loved to sew, and cook. She was an amazing seamstress. She made many outfits both for herself, cousins and friends. Spending time with family was very important to her. She felt that it was important to nourish her relationships with her family and friends as well as the next generation. She believed the way to do so was to make the time to be together. She did her very best to go back home to NJ every Christmas and summer to reconnect. Each summer she treasured the extended time they got to spend visiting and bonding with her family at the Jersey Shore. While back home, she loved to spend time relaxing on the beach, reading a book or two, or three, playing in the ocean and pool, and creating crafts and games with her nieces and nephews. She and Keith loved to share their stories and love of cooking foods from different cultures with all.
Eileen will be remembered for her beautiful smile, sparkling blue eyes, appreciation for a variety of cultures, thoughtfulness and making everyone who had the pleasure to be with her feel loved, seen, and heard. She wanted the best for all. She felt like each one of her many nieces, nephews and godchildren were her own and treated them as such, wanting and cherishing the best in them. She will be dearly missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her and loving her. May her smile continue to bring us all the comfort of unconditional love and zest for adventure.
Left to cherish her memory and smile include her daughter Victoria (Ruslan) Averin of Vermillion, S.D.; brothers Peter (Deborah) Flaherty of Little River, SC and Thomas (Janice) Flaherty of Little River, SC; sister Kerry Flaherty Reilly of Brick, NJ; Pat (Paul) Adamson of Sioux City, IA, Alan (Cindy) Hesse of Council Bluffs, IA, Gayle Madsen of Hornick, IA, Susan (Bob) Gulick of Olathe, KS, Diana (David) Schmidt of St. Joseph, MO and Dr. Curt Hesse of Mapleton, IA; many many loving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Eileen was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Martin Flaherty, Sr. and Jacqueline Marie Hall Flaherty (Bill) Dunn; husband Keith Hesse; and in-laws Alvie and Alta (Davis) Hesse.
