Obituary of Marbeth Harris

Marbeth (Strumpen-Darrie) Harris, 94, of Pearland, TX, died in Pearland, Texas on Good Friday, April 18, 2014, after receiving the last rites of the Catholic Church. Marbeth was the daughter of the late Jacques Strumpen-Darrie and Aida Strumpen-Darrie. She was predeceased by Paul Harris, her husband of 54 years; her brother Robert Strumpen-Darrie; and her granddaughter Darrie Kujawa. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Sighle Kujawa (Thomas Kujawa) of Tennessee; Paula Escobio (Armand Escobio) of North Carolina; Gregory Harris (Jane Harris) of Connecticut; Roderic Harris (Liz Harris) of Arizona; Ian Harris (Carol Harris) of Manvel, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Marbeth was born in Evanston, Illinois, but moved to Manhattan as a girl and had some of her primary and secondary schooling in Switzerland and France. She received a B.A. from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, an M.A. in English from Columbia College, and an M.A. in Parish Service from Manhattanville College. Marbeth was an English teacher at the Berlitz School of Languages and an actress in summer stock before becoming a full-time wife and mother. In summer stock, she met her future husband Paul Harris, a radio announcer and radio and stage actor. They were wed on Easter Monday, 1942, while Paul was in the U.S. Army. They remained married until Paul’s death in 1996. After World War II, they lived in New Rochelle, N.Y.; St. Louis, Missouri; Mamaroneck, New York; and New Canaan, Connecticut. After Paul’s death, Marbeth eventually moved to Tennessee and finally to Texas. The family expresses special thanks to the staff of Colonial Oaks Assisted Living of Pearland and of Grace Hospice of Texas, who gave Marbeth extraordinary care in her last years and days. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice. Marbeth was a devoted supporter of AmeriCares, the international emergency response charity (88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902) and concerned for the well-being of retired priests and religious sisters. The funeral mass will be celebrated on May 10th at 12:00 noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 6502 County Road 48, Manvel, Texas 77578. A reception will be held after the mass at Colonial Oaks Assisted Living, 2940 Cullen Pkwy, Pearland, TX 77584. Marbeth will be interred with her husband at Gate of Heaven Cemetery (10 West Stevens Ave., Hawthorne, NY 10532) at a later date.