Harriet Kabel

Harriet Kabel, 86, formerly of Middletown, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on October 15th in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. A native New Yorker, Harriet was born to Isidore and Ida (Kaplowitz) Balch in Brooklyn, New York and throughout her life she resided in Connecticut, Virginia, Florida and Colorado.

Harriet was a natural people-person with her big smile and even bigger laugh. Her early career began in real estate, and she eventually transitioned to department store sales positions on Middletown's illustrious Main Street - working at both Shapiro's and Kabachnick's retail establishments. Harriet relocated to Reston, Virginia, where she finished her career as an executive administrative assistant at Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C.

Harriet's creative passions were many, including cooking feasts for Thanksgiving and the Jewish high holidays, where she took pride with her golf ball-sized, sinking matzoh balls; she was a talented potter - creating delicate ceramic and porcelain works of art, many at Wesleyan Potters; and she had an amazing flair for entertaining guests like no other - creating artful platter arrangements, manifesting delicious recipes people raved about using the freshest ingredients and of course, cooking enough to feed a small army.

Harriet's everlasting love for her husband Daniel "Danny" Kabel endures as a true love story. The couple (both from New York) met at a summer retreat in New Hampshire, and as the story goes, the first question Danny asked Harriet was, "do you ski?" and the second question was, "are you Jewish?" Sparks flew and the couple enjoyed their shared passion for skiing on the slopes of New England, with a favorite spot being the picturesque town of Woodstock, Vermont. In retirement, the couple moved to Vero Beach, Florida, and upon Danny's passing in 2018 and after a few years of independent living, Harriet decided on the big move to Colorado to be closer to family.

Ultimately, Harriet loved spending time with her closest friends and family - nothing made her happier than hosting a large gathering at her home on Margarite Road where memories were created, laughter was contagious, the wine flowed and fun was had by all.

Harriet is survived by her beloved children, Scott and Alison, both of Minturn, Colorado, along with several nephews and nieces including Kenneth R. Kabel (Carol), Eric R. Kabel (Edgar) and Jill K. Levin (Donald) along with Rik Kabel (Jan), Brenda (Laura) Kabel, and Matthew Kabel and is predeceased by her parents Isidore and Ida Balch and her husband Daniel Kabel.

There will be no burial or calling hours. Memorial contributions in Harriet's memory can be made to the Sierra Club, Hospice of Middlesex Hospital or Wesleyan Potters.