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Harriet Moser Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Harriet Moser
Sponsored by the Moser Family.
Becky Bard
July 17, 2006
The children of Harriet Moser want to invite all her friends to the unveiling of her headstone on Sunday, July 23, at 12:00 at the Beth Yeshurun Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Moser home on 5059 Yarwell. We look forward to seeing you there.
Dorothy Hamilton
July 11, 2005
Many years ago while teaching kindergarten, I was blessed to have the joy of teaching Harriet's two youngest children, and get to become especially acquainted with her.
Harriet was such a talented, special friend. Her devotion to her family was wonderful. Of course, her musical talent was great. She had such a warm, cheerful outlook.
I enjoyed our visits, and keeping up with all her family. We took great joy sharing our children and grandchildren's pictures during the holidays - and always with a sweet note from her.
The world has lost a dear, dear person. But she will always live happily in our hearts.
Mom is so happy and colorful here!
June 16, 2005
Mom having a laugh with choir friends
June 16, 2005
Seymour Bernstein
June 12, 2005
I met Harriet around 20 years ago at a composition workshop at SMU in Dallas. We have corresponded ever since. As everyone knows, Harriet was a prolific composer and has sent me at least a hundred of her holiday songs. Her creativity and inventiveness have always been a source of great inspiration to me. I never failed to communicate this to her. She was also inspired by my work. Her expressions of love, warmth, and respect always spurred me on to greater heights. I loved and admired her. Though she has left this earth, her vibrant spirit will remain with me forever.
Nancy Moser
June 11, 2005
Stewart Moser, son of Harriet and Elliot Moser also offered a great, touching and hunorous speech about our Mom at her funeral. Here's his speech:
My Mom is such a gentle sweet peace-loving affectionate and caring person, that she could never wish harm to anyone, including fierce mountain lions, convicted murderers, the enemy in military battles, or festering cockroaches.
Harmony is her legacy. And while it shows most obviously in the music she appreciates and enjoys by the great and maybe not-so great masters, and the music she herself has created for others to appreciate and enjoy, harmony is there in all the facets of her view of the world, and in her aspirations for the world. My Mom sees the world as a place where every part, no matter how great or small, no matter how influential or insignificant, has its place and function.
As I was growing up I always was struck by her kindness to people in the vicinity, such as giving ice water to the meter reader on a hot day, or giving a bag of cookies to the mailman.
Occasionally, when a friend from school would come over to the house, he or she would tell me, Stewart, you have a great mom. I'd think to myself, yeah, I really do.
She appreciates what is beautiful and harmonious and can see beauty and harmony where others might not. I once brought her a new album by one of my favorite artists. This music had the effect of scaring me at first, as it seemed to be full of dissonance, harsh production, and disconcerting lyrics. She was able to boil it down for me to the basic musical elements that I had always appreciated by this artist, showing me that it wasn't really all that different from his previous work, and besides she liked it in spite of all its complication.
She is colorful, cheerful, funny, clever, sympathetic, and loving, and as she goes on to expand her sphere of influence, now everybody is liable to find out.
Not too many years ago, the family went to the IMAX theatre to see a film about nature, and I can't remember its name. The filmmaker was portraying how intense life can be out in the wild, and the huge screen puts the audience right there in it. At one point, a fierce snarling mountain lion leaps straight at the camera. Everyone in the place let out a terrified gasp. Except for my Mom, sitting right next to me, who went, "Awwww, kitty."
I think that, old as I am, I will continue to learn new and helpful ways of looking at life from Mom, who can always bring a sense of harmony into what looks initially like the craziest from of chaos.
Whenever I hear Chopin, there she is. Whenever I see a little red cardinal outside the window, there she is. Whenever I see a woman wearing a colorful Mexican dress, or even seeing such a dress on a hanger somewhere, there she is. And whenever I see a humorous cartoon in the newspaper, especially if a cat has the punchline, there she is.
But now she's everywhere and I don't even need the reminders. She just is---bringing life and light, joy and spirit, compassion and giving, and ultimately perfect harmony to everything and to everyone who is willing to see it.
Mom shows such a positive image of life and love that she is with us forever.
I was with Uncle Irving yesterday, and I said she is playing piano with Chopin right now. Uncle Irving said Chopin is turning the pages for her.
Great speech, Stew! Maybe I will post mine one of these days.
Letecia Green
June 3, 2005
Dear Moser Family,
It took me a long time to ever wonder if this has really happen still for today I break down knowing how it feels to lose such a wonderful person like Mrs. Moser she was a great-great person even though I have not known her that long. I would like to give to you all my deepest love for the lost of "MOM". She didn't tell you'll but we had that special bond to. Of course, I can call her mom to. So I would like to say to Mr. Moser(Dad) Nancy,Debbie,Louis,Becky,& Stewart that I Love You'll.
MOST DEEPEST SYMPATHY,
Letecia D. Green
Maria Bardino
June 3, 2005
Debbie, Thank you so much for sharing about your very special Mom at her Memorial Celebration tonight.
It is very easy to see her beautiful influence on your life. You are a living tribute to her memory.
I will always remember her during my prayers. Heäring of how she lived her life has made a strong, positive impact on mine.
What a gift! She makes me want to be a better human being....create more love and harmony....lead a more considerate and giving life. What a great benefit to be able to do that for someone whom you never met during your life. But I do feel I know her, again, through the way you live your own life. And I know for a fact that I am not alone in this opinion.
"She was a Buddha in life. In death she is a Buddha still."
Love to you, Nancy, and your entire family. Thank you for being my friends and sharing your always kind hospitality,
Maria
January, 2002, with Dad, Becky, Alex and Rachel
June 2, 2005
Becky (Moser) Bard
June 1, 2005
Thank you so much to all of you who have expressed such warm, thoughtful wishes for our family. It is such a pleasure to hear that our Mom, who we knew was wonderful, made such an impression on so many people. No matter what we did in our home, we were always surrounded by beautiful piano music, much of it written by her. Take some time to visit the photos now posted on the site, and if possible, listen to some beautiful piano music while you do. That might give you the same warm feeling we children experienced. Thanks again for all your love and support. And Mom, thank you a lifetime of beautiful memories. I love you and miss you with all my heart.
June 1, 2005
June 1, 2005
June 1, 2005
Eve Zeff
May 26, 2005
I will really miss Mrs. Moser. I loved her - she was such a great Mom. Ever since high school she would always make butterscotch cookies for me when she knew I was coming over. They were the absolute best! Rather addictive. If anyone has her recipes for cookies, I want copies so I can make them for my own daughter now. Lots of love to you all.
Mary Contreras
May 26, 2005
What a wonderful life Mrs. Moser had. The Rabbi was so expressive and obviously knew her well. Reading about this beautiful life story opens a window into the way her daughter, Nancy, was raised. Nancy is my son, Brandon's, Music teacher. Everyone loves her so much because she is a wonderful teacher and a loving, caring person. We are blessed to know her, and now, after learning about her mother, I understand why she is so giving of herself. She's just like her MOM! Nancy, we love you, and we are grateful for all you do for our kids. Your mother was and is proud of you. God rest her soul.
Lili Huang
May 26, 2005
Dear Moser Family,
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Even though we never met Harriet, we want to thank her for bring us such a wonderful music teacher, Nancy! My daughter is in the Miller Middle School Band where Nancy teaches, and we have so many friends who were or still are in Nancy's band. Nancy did such a wonderful job, she has made thousands of young musicians in our middle/high schools, even my son who is only in first grade, has already started taking Clarinet lessons, because he wants to be in Nancy's band when he enters middle school. Last night in the Spring Concert, Nancy dedicated the concert to Harriet for her encoragement for Nancy to take on music. I'd like you to know that we really benefit from Harriet's wise decision, and we appreciate it a lot! If there is anything we can do for you or for Harriet, please do let us know. Take care!
Theressa Lyons
May 26, 2005
Stewart, Thank you so much for sharing your Mom with me. Her story is very beautiful and inspiring. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family.
Karen Akimoto
May 25, 2005
Dear Moser Family,
Thank you for sharing your mother’s beautiful life story. We can see why Nancy is such a thoughtful and talented person and teacher. Our sympathies to your family.
Jeannine Miller
May 24, 2005
Although I never met this woman I feel very fortunate after reading this guestbook to have had a glimpse into Harriet's incredible life. I work with her daughter Nancy and often we speak of family. I can see why from reading this what a wonderful woman she was and why Nancy always spoke of her with love and warmth and a smile. My sincerest sympathy to the family.
Eric Maier
May 24, 2005
Dear Mrs. Moser
Thank you so much for packing extra cookies in Louis' lunch for me, and for providing me with such great friends in my youth - Nancy, Louis, and Becky. Peace and love on your journey, and though I know your family misses you terribly - reassurances to them that nobody who ever met you, no matter how long ago or how briefly, will ever forget your warmth, humor, and compassion.
Aloysia Moss
May 23, 2005
To Elliot Moser and his Family , Please accept
my sympathy for all of you in your great loss. Nancy works with my daughter, Laura, and I've been blessed to get to know Nancy a little bit, and how she cherished her dear mother.
Sincerely,
Aloysia Moss
Erin and Susan Garner
May 21, 2005
Our sincere condolences on the passing of a beautiful and talented mother and wife that seemed to have a smile for everyone. May her spirit of love always be with you.
Mike & Rosemarie Blodgett
May 20, 2005
Our deepest condolences to Elliot and her family. We have fond memories of Harriet on a number of occasions being together. She was gracious and always with a smile. Her kindness provided us yearly with her holiday music, which was a treat and appreciated. She was blessed with a special talent, which lives on in an outstanding fashion in Nancy. She will be truly missed.
Ruth Levenstein
May 20, 2005
Stewart,
Thank you for sending this. It is great to live in a home with music. I can see where you get your passion for songwriting. How difficult it must be to lose a parent. I am thinking of you.
Ruth
Kathy Lansford
May 18, 2005
Stewart, now I see where you got your great, smiley eyes. Your mother has them too. After reading her story, I feel as though I know her. What a great lady! Your family seems to be filled to overflowing with love for each other. Your mom left quite a sweet legacy.
Nancy Moser
May 18, 2005
Here is the beautiful speech that our family friend, Rabbi Danny Horwitz, made at my dear mom's funeral on May 11. He gave me permission to post it here, and I hope you enjoy it and learn more about my terrific, unique and amazing MOM!
The sudden death of our dear Harriet made me think of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. It's only one movement. It's unfinished, and yet it is a masterpiece, and the world is richer for having it. Harriet's life ended unfinished, and we are sad because we know how much more could have been in the future, but we are grateful for the wonderful memories of a life which truly was a masterpiece.
Born and raised in Detroit, where she attended Wayne University and then the Eastman School of Music. From the very beginning, it was clear that Harriet was a gifted pianist; she learned her first piece at the age of four, was giving concerts as a young child! At the age of 14, she had an opportunity to play with the Detroit Symphony. The only catch was, she had three weeks to memorize an entire Beethoven concerto...and she did it.
She met Elliot in a music class at the university. I think he fell in love with her listening to her play a Chopin etude. What a romantic introduction to a life of 54 years together!
They started out in Detroit, and while Elliot was in the Air Force they were in Virginia for a while, and she taught briefly at William and Mary College. It was during this period that Harriet contracted polio. She had both paralytic polio and a more unusual kind of polio, bulbar polio; 2 out of 3 people who got this kind of polio died, but she was determined to be the third.
This kind of polio primarily affected her arms. For a long time, she couldn't lift her arms. She had to have a sling Elliot made for her in order to play the piano, and she used a silent keyboard for practice in order to regain strength in her hands and arms. She was determined to return to the level of skill she possessed previously, and by the time they came down to Houston in 1953, she was not only better, she was performing again.
Family was #1 in her life, but music was not far behind. And if you were her family, you learned to appreciate her love for music too.
Harriet was constantly composing music, right up to the morning of the day she died. It is estimated that she wrote between thirty and forty THOUSAND pieces.
She wrote and played original music for her children's weddings. She wrote music based on poetry and on prayers. She wrote Passover pieces and Rosh Hashanah pieces. She wrote songs for her friends. She wrote music which she sent to outstanding musicians, some of whom got to know her a bit. She wrote tons of waltzes, everything in 3/4.
She had an amazing memory for music and could play countless pieces by heart, and was quite capable of sightreading it as well.
She had perfect pitch as well as a wealth of musical knowledge. She would hear a knife fall to the ground, or a bird chirping, and she would instantly tell you what key it was.
Composing music was a devotional activity for Harriet; it was a form of meditation and a form of worship. And it was also very natural for her to be playing here at Brith Shalom, particularly with Elliot and his brothers in the choir, virtually from inception, and she continued to do that for several decades.
She played at churches as well, in particular Mount Carmel Catholic Church, and her own faith was broad enough to appreciate the devotions and certainly the music from a wide range of religious traditions. She was thrilled to share her love of music with anyone. Her sister-in-law Vivian mentioned the time she brought a friend to Harriet and Elliot's home, and they were talking about music, and she just played a few pieces for him as if it were part of the conversation. And the fellow talked afterwards about how wonderful it was that someone could play the piano like that...and would do it for HIM! But that was Harriet; she would do it if it might make someone else happy.
It's one thing to know the piano, it's another thing to teach it. Someone mentioned to one of our congregants yesterday that they had heard of Harriet's death, and said she was one of the finest piano teachers in the country. In the COUNTRY! Yesterday when I went to pick up my son from school, I was talking with someone aboutHarriet's death. One of the staff overheard the conversation. Harriet Moser? She was my piano teacher! She was wonderful! She was so gentle, so loving, so beautiful. That was her way, combined with her vast knowledge of the music, which instilled a love of the music in many youngsters over the course of her life.
Harriet combined her love of family and music with her deep appreciation of Jewish tradition every Friday evening. The Sabbath Song on the piano, simple and majestic; candlelighting; challah and chicken. And she was Jewishly quite knowledgeable; she read many of the Jewish thinkers of the 20th century and though I think she was reticent about bringing them up, she would share her own perspectives on them if you asked her. She was an extremely thoughtful Jew, who sought to express both the mystery and the
beauty of Judaism in many ways.
She did listen to other kinds of music, particularly jazz; she
tolerated her children listening to rock and roll, although there was one story Stewart mentioned which was particularly telling: There was a Rolling Stones song with a driving beat, some of us remember it, called "The Last Time" which with about 40 years hindsight I can say is musically particularly primitive. But back then we liked it and the radio played it all the time. It was Debbie's birthday, and so her Mom called up the top 40 station they were listening to and asked them to wish Debbie a happy birthday on the air, and to PLEASE quit playing that song.
Fortunately for the course of civilization, I think Chopin will outlast the Rolling Stones. I'm optimistic about that.
Music wasn't the only thing Harriet had strong opinions about, and when she felt strongly about something, she put it down in a letter, or in a song.
One of the other gifts Harriet had was the ability to change the subject. Harriet was determined to focus on the positive in life. She apparently had some very difficult experiences in childhood, and she found that the way to deal with them was to focus on what was beautiful and good in her life, and that's what she did. It wasn't always easy and it wasn't Pollyannish. It took a great deal of courage to look at what was positive, when you had been through a lot of unhappiness and sickness, it took a heart of kindness and also a fighting spirit. That's the spirit she displayed right up to the last day of her life.
Harriet didn't start out her married life as a great cook, but she was determined to become one, and she did. Her cheesecake was so appreciated that she actually sold some of it to a restaurant and thought for a while about developing a business around it. In the end, her cooking became part of her way of generosity. When she had a neighbor with ALS disease, every Friday when she cooked Shabbat dinner for her family, she cooked for her neighbor and her family too. Becky told us about how one Thanksgiving, because her husband Ed didn't eat turkey, her mother cooked a turkey AND a duck...and she always baked Ed's favorite cookies too. Family, neighbors, brash college students who might be coming home with Stewart or hanging around with the USYers, it was all part of her loving nature and her willingness to give to whoever was there, whatever they might need.
Harriet had a wonderful sense of humor, which she used to uplift others and make life more enjoyable. She enjoyed so many of the simple things of life: a good cartoon, a bird in its season, a lovely card, laughter at the dinner table. (I think that's part of why she loved you, Elliot, because she appreciated how much laughter you brought into her life.) You would rarely see Harriet without that radiant smile which lit up a room and made others feel happy too.
She loved animals, especially cats; for many years she took early morning walks to feed all the cats in the neighborhood.
And there was little she wouldn't do for her family. Not only when they were very young, but after they left home. Debbie remembers how her mother wrote her a letter every day the first year she was away from home. Maybe she felt she needed that contact, maybe she sensed that the transition would be especially difficult, but for whatever reason, she did it every single day.
Stewart recalled how they drove through Johnson City when he first went off to school in El Paso, and his mother got an idea, and he shortly thereafter received a letter from former President Johnson which would have served as a great reference letter with any job application. She knew how to get things done like that.
There was so much she had to overcome: a stroke in the early 70s, heart attack in the 80s, breast cancer, a heart bypass surgery, diabetes. One surgery the doctors wanted her to have, but she wouldn't agree to it until the surgeon promised her that he wouldn't sever any of the tendons in her arm. The doctors all wanted her to live, but she wanted to live with music.
The last 2-3 years she couldn't walk...but she still composed and played every day, right up to the last. And now the piano is still, but the music that was her life will remain with you.
We offer our prayers for her grandchildren whose grandmother sent them the MiniPage from the Chronicle every week, and who will always know how much pride she took in all of their accomplishments, who was a great part of their lives even from a distance, Alex and Rachel and Tai, all know that you were appreciated and loved and cherished.
Stewart, Debbie and Nancy, Nancy and Ken, Louis and Tarah, Becky and Ed... it goes without saying that your mother really, really, really, really, really loved you...no one could say it, let alone do it, the way she did it. I know that her sudden death leaves a terrible gap in your lives, but I also know that love like hers remains behind when she is no longer here to express it. Her unconditional love for each of you will always be strong. She gave each of you the room to grow in different directions, and whatever you were, whoever you were, she appreciated you, she respected you, she treasured and loved you from the deepest depths of her enormous heart. There's no way I can express all that she taught you, except to say that I am sure there are lessons yet to be learned from her life, because a spirit as rich as hers doesn't stop teaching us when the physical life is gone. She will be there to teach you more still.
Elliot? Harriet's love will never leave you entirely. Her voice and her physical presence have left, but her spirit and the lifetime of love you had together will never go away. The many days you and others would sit on the couch just listening to her play the piano, those will not come again. But the two of you participated in a greater, eternal love; you inhabited a higher plane of love than most couples. And once you know that plane, and that level, you truly know that "your cup runneth over." Another day, another pianist will play that Chopin etude, and another young adult will react as you did, and hear the supernal soul behind the music, and the piece will go on and on.
[Stewart related the conversation with Uncle Irving after her death, where he said "She's playing with Chopin now." And Irving said, "yes, and he's turning pages for HER."] Sometimes, when you have been part of the life of a truly remarkable person, you get the feeling that you're just turning the pages as she produces the great music. I was privileged to know Harriet when we were all much younger, privileged to be the beneficiary of much kindness from her and Elliot during my earlier years in Houston. I can say that it did not take long to recognize that she was an extremely special person. I was lucky to have been able to see her a few times this year and was happy
to see that the spark was still there, that in spite of her physical limitations she continued to make music and to create something uplifting out of each day.
Sometimes, in this world, we are fortunate to know such extraordinary souls, who bring a certain light into the world and leave us so much. One of our greatest sages, Rabbi Akiva, taught in Pirkei Avot this piece of wisdom. Beloved is man, for he is created in God's image; but even more beloved is man that it was made known to him that he was created in God's image. We can accomplish so much in life, but few of us recognize just how much we can be, how far we can go, how much beauty we can bring to our world. Beloved was Harriet Moser, who not only was granted special gifts, but who knew how much blessing she could bring to everyone around her. And fortunate are we who received the gift of her life, and how much more fortunate and beloved we are if we truly knew and appreciated what a wonderful gift her life was to each of us.
Thank you, Harriet, for all you gave us in your love, in your great spirit, in the music which filled your heart and spilled over into our lives. May God give you a truly grand piano to accompany the heavenly choir, as your spirit and your music pass into eternity. To our Harriet, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, gifted composer and artist, a beautiful light in the lives of all of us who knew her, to Harriet Moser, we say today, Shalom.
by Rabbi Danny Horwitz - Thank you, Danny.
Lindsey
May 17, 2005
My deepest sympathy for her family. I only knew her a short time, but was very memorable. Such a sweet and kind lady. Her family will be in my thougths and prayers.
Shirley Feliciano
May 16, 2005
My deepest sympathy to her family. Mom Moser, although I only saw her a few times, was very memorable. So sweet and bubbly and loved her children so much, even her son in law Kenny had a very special place in her heart. A very talented composer, may her music be heard from the heavens above.
Joanne Hart
May 14, 2005
My deepest sympathy to Elliot and the children on the loss Harriet. She was my favorite cousin and a dear friend and will be greatly missed.
nina uzick
May 13, 2005
My prayers are with you. Mrs. Moser was a most talented, kind and gracious person. May her memory be for a blessing. Nina Uzick (Adolph and Muriel's daughter)
Nicole Brannon
May 12, 2005
My thoughts are with you and your family Stewart.
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