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WOMEN of EARLY OCONTO COUNTY
1869 - 1948
submitted
by Richard LaBrosse
Theresa Flatley was a
lifelong resident of Oconto
County.
She was born January 24th, 1869, the daughter of the Peter and Anna
Plain,
early pioneers
of the town of Stiles. She was the first little girl to
board and attend St. Joseph's convent school in Oconto. Her marriage to
Mr. W. A. Flatley, also a member of a pioneer family, took place in
Milwaukee
June 1897. The couple returned to the Oconto/Oconto Falls and resided
there
their remainder of their lives. Mr. Flatley conducted a furniture and
funeral
service, and he was assisted his wife. After his death April 4, 1939,
she
carried on the business with her son and daughter. The Flatley's also
managed
the local branch of the Wisconsin Telephone Company, and Theresa
Flatley
was chief operator for many years.
She was interested and took an active part in every community project, and her membership was always an active one. Charter memberships and holding of office of president marked her affiliation with the Christian Mother's Society of Anthony's Church, the Royal Neighbor lodge (made up of pioneer women of the county), the Maccabees, and in that organization she was a captain of the drill team, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Library Board and the Woman's Club. During the years of the depression, she did outstanding work for the Auxiliary by having Community birthday parties, and aIso during this period she was a counselor of the Junior and Senior Catholic Youth Organizations. Her Club activities included offices in the district and state federations. She was faithful in her attendance at meetings of the Catholic Diocese for Women. One of her yearly services to the Legion and Auxiliary was to the memorial service at the river and to make the poppy decked anchor, which was floated on the Lake Michigan waters in memory of the men who died at sea.
Mrs.
Flatley's interest and participation in the entertainment during
the last day of her life was most indicative of her character. Herself
an excellent actress, she loved to direct plays and her productions
were
always outstanding and out of the amateur class, with hand painted
scenery
and authentic costumes. Two plays in particular are still remembered,
"The
Soul of Ann Rutledge", and a Passion Play given at Easter
Time. The
entertainment in which she participated that last Thursday 
evening
of her life was an April, 1948, review named "Fun For You". She played
the role of a Civil War mother. The play was repeated on Friday
evening,
after her death, with her role left vacant. Tribute was paid to her at
that time, and she was also named a "Good Neighbor" and a
bouquet
of American Beauty Roses sent to her.
In her last few years Theresa Flatley's keenest interest and hobby was the Oconto County Historical Society, and the County Museum. Just prior to her death, she had been re-elected as director of the Society and was engaged in the compilation of county history, and also her church.
Mrs. Flatley was deeply interested in Wisconsin's Centennial year of 1948, and had made many plans. In fact she had her whole year planned. She was to take her granddaughters to the Centennial program at Lena on the Friday afternoon. Theresa Flatley suffered a fatal stroke early that Friday morning (April 25th) .
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