Obituary: Harriet Price Merl, 85, Of Redding

Information and Photo Courtesy Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home

REDDING, CT — Harriet Price Merl passed away on Nov. 30, 2023. Born Dec, 5, 1937, she left us just shy of her 86th birthday.

Harriet was born and raised in Rochester, NY, the only daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Price, both immigrants from Great Britain. She was predeceased by her only brother, Hyman Price and his wife Pauline.

Harriet was a force - smart, driven, and strong while loving and dedicated to her family. Harriet grew up with very little means but was determined to be educated and have a career. She put herself through college at the University of Rochester while working at Kodak, obtained a degree in education, and later a master’s in special education. She worked with special needs students and later transitioned into the corporate world, having a successful and rewarding career in human resources.

She is survived by her husband Murray Merl, their three daughters, and five precious grandchildren: daughter Karen Merl Banoff, her partner Eric, and Karen’s children Rebecca and Benjamin; Jacqueline Merl Bamman, her husband John, and her son Nathaniel; and Rayna Merl Havelock and her husband Scott and sons Ellis and wife Caroline, and Dean. All will miss her dearly, but are glad she is at peace today.

A funeral service will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Sunday morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. Following the funeral service, interment will take place in Willowbrook Cemetery; 395 Main Street, Westport (Section 14/All Faiths).

Additional visiting hours (shiva) will be observed after the interment on Sunday, Dec. 3 and also on Monday, Dec. 4. To obtain the location and times, please email karenbanoff@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital, an organization that was dear to Harriet's heart as she always said that no child should suffer from cancer.