Madelaine Harris

Post a Message of Sympathy | View Messages of Sympathy | Printer Friendly


Madelaine Harris, daughter of Van and Shirley Harris, died on Saturday, March 4th, at her home in Auburn, New York at the age of 64. As a huge Beatles fan, she would have found the age appropriate.
Madelaine was an incredibly artistic soul. She was tremendously talented, and her greatest medium was yarn. She was always working on her next knitting project—usually a sweater or hat for the newest baby born to friends and family. She could knit in the dark at a movie theater without missing a stitch. Her afghans and sweaters will live on for generations beyond her.
Maddy wanted to save the world. She worked as both a registered nurse and a veterinary technician. She cared deeply for animals, especially her dogs, of whom she had many throughout her life. She certainly loved animals more than she loved people. Especially since the 2016 election.
She made a mean batch of Mandelbrot, that she shared with friends, family, medical providers, or whoever else she could make it for. She was generous, giving what she could to whomever was in need. This was especially true when it came to her family. Nearly everything she did was to try and show her family how much she loved them. In her later years, Maddy would throw that love at her granddaughter Scarlett, sometimes sending her so many packages that her son had to ask her to chill out because he couldn’t keep up with receiving, opening, and cataloguing them.
She was a loving wife, daughter, aunt, sister, mother, and “bubbe.”
Madelaine was incredibly close with her parents Van and Shirley until they died. She wanted things her way, just like her legendarily stubborn father. Her greatest deed was taking care of her mother in her final years. She was the keeper of our family’s history, and with her passing, one more link in the Harris family lore is gone.

Madelaine is survived by her brothers Dan, David, and Andy, husband Mark, sons Jason and Max, granddaughter Scarlett, and dog Mamala. Even if she had difficulty showing it, she loved all of them.

In Maddy’s honor, please make a donation to your local Humane Society or pet shelter.