Mrs. Carol F. Doherty, RN, age 96, of Cumberland, RI, formerly of Attleboro, MA passed away at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home in Riverside, RI on February 15, 2024. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Edward J. Doherty, DDS who had a dental practice in Attleboro for many years.
Born in Taunton, she was the daughter of the late Taunton Police Detective John P. Flynn and the late Margaret (Brady) Flynn. Mrs. Doherty was the sister of the late John J. Flynn, a Washington DC lobbyist of Falmouth, MA. Mrs. Doherty is survived by her sons, retired Wrentham District Court Clerk-Magistrate Edward J. Doherty and his wife Joanne of Mattapoisett & Colonel Brendan P. Doherty, retired Rhode Island State Police Superintendent and his wife Michele of Narragansett, RI.
She was predeceased by her youngest son Christopher J. Doherty of West Yarmouth, co-owner of the 19th Hole Tavern in Hyannis. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Matthew J. Doherty and his wife Kristin of Wayland, Christine E. Ehlers, RN and her husband Dan of Lakeville, Shelby E. Matzell and her husband Evan of East Greenwich, RI and Kaitlin M. Wirth and her husband Jonathan of Marion. Mrs. Doherty leaves ten great-grandchildren – Brayden, Jack, & Quinn Doherty, Adalyn, Lucy, & Rose Ehlers, Ryan & Cavan Matzell, and Joseph & Molly Wirth.
Mrs. Doherty was a Registered Nurse, a graduate of St. Mary’s High School and Morton Hospital School of Nursing in Taunton. She studied at the graduate level at Boston University, Simmons College and McGill University. She worked at Boston City Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and others in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond. Mrs. Doherty was a contributing member of the World Health Organization and had been trained in the use of the Iron Lung which she ran to save many lives during the polio epidemic. Her resilience and strength were evident when, after contracting COVID, she survived the dreaded virus shortly before her 93rd birthday and then again later!
Mrs. Doherty will always be remembered as a strong, yet kind and generous lady who lived for her family and talked about them to anyone who would listen. The Doherty family is abundantly grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at Hattie Ide Chaffee Home and Hope Health Hospice for their unwavering care, devotion and kindness.
At the family’s request all services will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shamrock Fund at Bishop Feehan High School 70 Holcott Drive, Attleboro, MA 02703 in her memory would be appreciated. For online condolences, visit boyleandsonfunerals.com
