Obituary of Mary Harrison

Mary (Burke) Harrison of Pembroke, MA passed away at home in the loving care of her family on Oct. 19, 2010. She was born in Chelsea, MA and lived to be 68 years young. Mary attended Peter Bent Brigham School of Nursing and started her career at Brigham and Womens Hospital. She was on the PBBH Alumni Board for 45 years, serving as its treasurer for more than 20 years. She was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, a volunteer for the Pembroke Council on Aging, and a member of the Red Hat Society. She was married to Ken Harrison for 44 years, and built a life in Pembroke where they raised three children. Mary's passion was traveling with Ken. They left their footprints on every corner of the globe including the Great Wall of China, the Nile, the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, and Patagonia. Some recent trips included riding a zip line through the tree tops of Costa Rica, swimming with stingrays in the Caribbean, and visiting Red Square in Moscow. There was little Mary would not try. She enjoyed planning family reunions in places like the Dominican Republic and Cape Hatteras. These gatherings will forever be cherished by her family. She also liked flying kites and tobogganing with her grandchildren in Vermont, knitting, quilting, and rug braiding. Mary is survived by her husband Ken; her three children Deb Harrison OBrien, Kevin Harrison and Sian Harrison OLeary; her sons-in-law, Terry OBrien and Nathan OLeary; her grandchildren Tierney and Liam OBrien, her brother John Burke, and nephews Joe and Mike Burke. Calling hours will be held on Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 7 Mattakeesett St. (PEMBROKE CENTER). A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Center Cemetery in Pembroke. Donations can be made to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth.