HARRIET VACHSS HARRIS

1940 - 2015

HARRIS, HARRIET VACHSS Harriet Vachss Harris, born in Stamford on June 2, 1940, passed away on March 29, 2015 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford. A longtime resident of West Haven, she had recently moved to Tower One in New Haven. Predeceased by her parents, Benedict and Bessie Scott Vachss, Harriet leaves behind her husband of forty-seven years, Harry Harris; her children, Rebekah S. Carolla (Andrew) of East Haven, CT, Sondra J. Harris (Jeffrey Verrier) of North Las Vegas, NV, and Allan J. Harris (Patricia) of Easton, MA; her granddaughters, Lila Belinda Harris and Charlotte Francesca Harris; her brother, Stephen Vachss of Dublin, CA; her sister, Marcia (Mark Braunstein) of Stamford; two nieces and a nephew, and many dear friends. Harriet loved reading (especially science fiction), music, writing, maintaining her decade-plus online journal, and cheering on the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team. These are passions she passed to her children. She was a wonderful teacher with every story she told. A graduate of Stamford High School, University of Connecticut (Class of 1963, BA in Biology and Chemistry), The Katharine Gibbs School, and The Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute (Jonah-certified), she went on to work as an office administrator at the American Red Cross Blood Services, Creative Output, and The Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute. After she had retired, she continued to work part-time as a paralegal and as a Literacy Volunteer. Harriet had asked that thanks be given to her internist, Dr. Lynne Hillis, for many years of care; her family would further like to thank the Angels at Hospice. Harriet died in comfort, at peace, and with dignity. In lieu of flowers, Harriet’s family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Funeral Services at the Independent Vilner Lodge Memorial Park, 107 Victor St. East Haven, CT, THURSDAY, April 2, 2015 at 12:00 o’clock. Family and friends may also call at the Carollas’ residence on Thursday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Arrangements in care of The Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, New Haven, CT. www.shurefuneralhome.com