Vera Grace Maher, aged 83, died peacefully on March 7, 2017 in Rockville Centre, New York in the presence of her family.  Vera was born on February 1 st , 1934, the daughter of Edward and Vera Raftery.

Vera lived her entire life in Brooklyn. She was a graduate of St. Ephrem's and St. Brendan's. She married Robert Maher in 1955, and they raised their five children on 71 st Street in Dyker Heights. In addition to caring for her family, Vera had a long career in the NYC public school system as a regional school lunch program manager and retired in 1999. During that time, she also attended classes at night at Hunter and LaGuardia Colleges and received her college degree.

After the death of her beloved husband in 2001, Vera spent much of her time with her children and grandchildren. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, the United States and the Caribbean with stops in Ireland, Italy, France, Costa Rica, Westhampton Beach and especially South Carolina with her beloved daughter Kathy and her husband Jim. She always came home to Brooklyn, where she was an active member of St. Dominic's church, an officer of the Garden Club of Bay Ridge, a supporter of the Arts, a best friend to many, and a kind and compassionate companion to everyone she met.

Vera is survived by her children Kathy, Vera Marie, Robert, Thomas and John, their spouses, seven grandchildren, her sister Sr. Teresa  Raftery, IHM, brother Tom, cousins, nieces and nephews and countless friends.