Constance U Nolan

Constance Ursule Nolan of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, originally of Germantown, and recently residing in Collingswood, New Jersey, passed away surrounded by family on February 20th, 2026, four and a half years after the death of her husband of 64 years. She was 92 years old.

Connie was a force of nature and an icon. Matriarch of the Flaherty/ Nolan clan, she was the one everyone just wanted to be around and chat with. People were drawn to Connie. Funny, direct, wise, thoughtful, and deeply supportive, she regularly converted strangers to friends. She was everyone’s grandmom, mom, sister, friend, and confidant.

Born in Philadelphia in 1933, Connie grew up in Germantown with her parents, Margie Donnelly Flaherty and Jim Flaherty, her sister Gerry, and her brother Jim. She became an RN and worked in the “accident ward” – as she called it – in Germantown hospital. In 1954 she met the love of her life, the formidable Dick Nolan. They had a fairytale marriage, going to jazz clubs, parties, restaurants, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and simply enjoying each other’s company. They had three kids – Nancy, Chris, and Shawn. When Chris came out as gay in the mid-eighties, Connie embraced her son with open arms and jumped into the fight against prejudice with both feet. She joined PFLAG to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and became a regular at the Philly AIDS walk. Connie, Dick, and everyone around them were devastated by the loss of Chris to cancer at the age of thirty-four. After his death, Connie began her decades-long involvement with Compassionate Friends, a group that supports parents who have lost children.

As a lifelong Catholic, she was committed to following the example and spirit of Jesus in her daily life. She lived out his teaching to “love one another,” taking care of anyone around her who needed it. In her final weeks, she was sure to reach for the hands of her own caregivers, look in their eyes and thank them for their care.

Connie is survived by her daughter Nancy and son Shawn, their spouses Larry and Meg, and her five beloved grandchildren – Caitlin, Erika, Kelly, Christopher, Michelle, and her soon to be grandson-in-law Logan, Kelly’s fiance.

Join us for Connie’s celebration of life on Thursday, February 26, at St. Vincent’s in Germantown, 109 E. Price Street, Philly, at noon. Family will receive guests at the church starting at 11AM. An Irish wake will begin immediately following mass at the Commodore Barry Arts and Cultural Irish Center at 6815 Emlen Street, Philly.

The family (and Connie) asks that if you’d like to make a donation in her honor, in lieu of flowers please consider supporting the Christopher Nolan Memorial Fund at the Philadelphia Foundation. 

https://www.philafound.org/give-now/