NAUGATUCK — Maude (Faivre) (Mowrey) Harris, 91, of Naugatuck, passed peacefully at home with family present on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015.
She was born and grew up in Brookside, Pa., and graduated from Jersey Shore High School. She was the youngest of eight children and grew up in a farming community. She married Frederick F. Mowrey, Jr. in 1943 and they moved to Naugatuck in 1944. Together, they established their home in Naugatuck and had seven children. Fred Mowrey passed in 1965. To support her family, she worked as a secretary at Chittenden Insurance and Waterbury Hospital while raising her seven children. She married Walter Harris in 1976 and together shared 33 years as good friends and loving companions. After Walter passed in 2009, Maude reestablished herself in Naugatuck and reconnected with many friends and the Methodist Church community.
Back in Naugatuck, she was active in church activities, The Red Hatters Society, and remained very involved with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She volunteered at Waterbury Hospital, the Naugatuck Historical Society, and the American Red Cross. Maude and Walt enjoyed travel cross country and internationally and especially relished family gatherings and celebrations.
Maude’s oldest son, Wayne, passed in 2010. Maude is survived by her six children and their spouses: Wayne’s wife Ruth of Chester, Gary Mowrey of Red Bluff, Calif., Craig and Elsa Mowrey of Fishkill, N.Y., Rhea and Keat Sanford of Naugatuck, Beth and Michael Michado of Big Springs, Calif., Joyce Mowrey and Christopher Craig of Goshen, and Allan “Chip” and Marne Mowrey of Middlebury. Maude 14 fourteen grandchildren. The great-grandchildren number 17.
Maude is remembered for her humor, love for reading and doing the daily crossword puzzle, energetic scheduling for meals with friends and enjoying theatrical performances, impeccable organization skills, impressive fashion sense, daunting shoe collection and love for movies, especially old movies with John Wayne. She always gave full and loving attention to her friends and family, and served as the family and community historian.
Maude was a planner and was most comfortable when she had multiple plans. She loved to shop and travel. She had Talbots and LL Beans on speed dial. She had certain routines that were religiously followed: the coffee pot was set the night before for the next day’s brewing, house cleaning was on Tuesday, food shopping on Wednesday, breakfast at 6 a.m. sharp, a big meal at noon, and a light supper at 5 p.m. She kept in constant and regular touch with children and grandchildren by phone and Facebook. She had an indefatigable brightness and optimism. She loved to share the stories and memories of her youth, her travels, and all of her family.
A memorial service will be held at the Naugatuck United Methodist Church on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015 at 2 p.m. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St., is assisting the family.
Donations can be made in Maude Harris’s name to the Naugatuck United Methodist Church, 214 Meadow St., Naugatuck, CT 06770.
For further information, to light a memorial candle, or to send an email condolence, visit www.fordfh.com.
