The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mrs. Doherty

Agnes F. Doherty's gentle Irish wit and gift of verse earned her a host of friends in Cincinnati and around the country.

"She made lasting friends effortlessly. Some were contemporaries met only months ago; others were two generations younger than she," said a son, Michael Doherty of White Oak. "The day before she died she was visited by a friend of 83 years."

Mrs. Doherty, 88, died in her sleep Tuesday at Deaconess Hospital after a brief illness.

A native of Mount Adams, she was graduated from St. Xavier Commercial School. She was married to the late Paul J. Doherty for 56 years.

From 1953 to 1974 she was the parish secretary for St. Francis de Sales Church.

"In 1953 she was asked to substitute for two weeks for the departing secretary," said another son, Dennis Doherty of Summerside. "She was so popular and efficient that the pastor asked her to stay a little longer. That turned two weeks into more than 21 years."

Mrs. Doherty had a talent for writing consolation poetry, Dennis Doherty said. For years she would fill requests for people suffering. Her reputation spread by word of mouth and it was not uncommon for her to receive written requests from people she did not know in other states.

"She filled every request and often generated an ongoing correspondence with those people," he said.

She and her husband were active in the Xavier University parents club for nearly 25 years. He died in 1994.

In addition to her sons, survivors include a brother, Donald Lysaght, of Norwood; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Memorials: Our Daily Bread, 1618 Vine St., Cincinnati 45210.