Mary J. Harris

Mary J. Harris, 93, of West Boylston, Mass., died peacefully, Saturday, November 30,2024 at Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation in Worcester.

Mary is survived by her sister, Paula Courville, of Auburn; her brother, Richard Nicholson of Oakdale, CT; and her four children, Janet Harris of Frankfort, Ky, John Harris of Wells, Maine, David Harris of West Boylston, James Harris of Ivoryton, CT, along with foster sons, Thomas Harris of Warwick, NY, Sean Fitzgerald of Manchester, New Hampshire, and three grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, John L. Harris; her daughter, Julie A. Harris; her sister, Janet Dunton, her brother, Robert Nicholson, parents Elizabeth and Harold Nicholson of Auburn, MA, and foster daughter Christine Ripley of Clinton, MA.

She was a graduate of Auburn High School.

After moving to West Boylston, she began volunteering for West Boylston Fire and EMS as an EMT. Mary drove school buses for the West Boylston and Holden School districts for over 50 years and also volunteered her driving services for the Great Brook Valley Childcare program. She was also a member of the Massachusetts Alliance for the Mentally ill.

She was a devote Roman Catholic and a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in West Boylston. Mary and her late husband worked with the Worcester Children’s Friend Society and fostered many children spanning over 30 years.

She had a voracious appetite for reading, and you would rarely see her without a book in her purse or under her arm. She enjoyed gardening and had a strong love for animals.

A period of visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 10th  from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Fay Brothers Life Celebration Home, located at 1 West Boylston St, West Boylston. A service will follow at 11:00 AM in the funeral home.

Mary will be laid to rest in High Plains Cemetery in the Village of Oakdale, MA, weather permitting.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations a may be made to West Boylston Fire and Ambulance Fund 39 Worcester Street, West Boylston Mass 01583