Mary Harris

Mary Angela Concilio Harris, joined her Lord, Jesus Christ with great joy on February 12, 2025, at the age of 101. Mary was born on September 26, 1923, to the late August and Anna (Nolan) Concilio. Mary was a beacon of kindness in her community, always ready to lend a helping hand, share a warm smile or simply listen when she knew that was needed. Her nurturing spirit and unwavering support touched the lives of everyone she encountered.

Mary attended Holy Ghost and Holy Infancy Grade schools and graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School, class of 1940. She obtained a business degree from Bethlehem Business College in 1942. In her early years, Mary helped at her father's hardware store: Nolan/Concilio Hardware on 3rd street. After college, she worked for Dr. Frank Conahan, a general practitioner and ophthalmologist, as his assistant from 1942 to 1949. Mary knew the eye chart by heart. She liked reciting it to her eye doctors during her own eye examinations. She also was an assistant Girl Scout leader during this time.

Mary met her future husband, Paul J. Harris, at a party in 1947. He would wait for Mary outside Liberty Lanes (where he worked and bowled) after Mary's choir practice and walk her home and sit on her porch and talk. They dated going to dance halls in the area. Mary said that she would dance on the tables after just one beer. The two were married on May 22, 1948. Both Paul and Mary loved to travel and play cards; bridge was their favorite game.

Mary and Paul lived happily for 60 years until Paul's death in 2008. Together, they raised eight children living at 384 Hickory St., across from her second home at Saint Anne's R.C. Church. It was a busy, noisy and happy home overflowing with not just their own kids but cousins and friends from school and the neighborhood. Mary was a dedicated homemaker and always made her home a warm, welcoming and loving place for everyone. It was not unusual to have extra faces at the family dinners. Mary's home remained this way throughout her entire life. Mary lived her life with love, grace and resilience. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.

Mary always loved to sing and had a beautiful mezzo soprano voice. She had the lead in her high school musical and continued to share her gift being a choir member, soloist and cantor. Mary was also always involved with St Anne's R.C. Church she was a member of Sodality of Mary, was St. Anne's school hot lunch lady and their school secretary from 1971 to 1986. She continued to manage the school's attendance records into her 80's. From 1987 to 2020, well into her 90's, she helped with the weekly church collection reporting every Monday. Mary attended Mass every day even when she needed to be wheeled there by her son, Lawerence. Her faith was unwavering. She survived breast cancer in 1986. She believed that one should just trust in the Lord when things get tough and that He will help you get through. She would remind her children of that often as their lives got complicated. We often thought she had a direct line to Jesus in Heaven.

Mary was born the year women got the right to vote and took pride in voting in person at every election. She served on the Northampton County Election Board for her district as Majority Inspector and Election Clerk for 10 years. Mary maintained a close group of friends. She hosted regular bridge parties with her friends from High School. She never turned down an invitation to play card. She was a sharp competitor who regularly played bridge, pinochle, rummy and Quiddler until days before she passed. Mary was also a good seamstress and a skilled baker, especially pies. Mary was ever ready to lend a helping hand or share a warm smile or send a birthday card. Her nurturing spirit and unwavering support touched the lives of everyone she encountered.

Mary embraced her role as Matriarch of the Concilio/Harris Family with much love and care. She will be dearly missed by her sisters, Anne Chiles (Franklin) and Sr. M. Alphonsa IHM (Kathryn), her brother, Augustine (Mary), her children; Mary Eleanor (Robert ), James Michael (Carole), Jane Anne (John), Nancy Marie (Gerald), Lawerence Paul, Joan Elizabeth (Micheal), Thomas Augustine (Priscilla), and Sarah Denise (James), as well as sixteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and her guardian angel, Annie Wayne.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, August Concilio, mother, Anna Nolan Concilio, husband, Paul J. Harris and sisters: Theresa Concilio, Jean Concilio Martinuzzi, Joan Concilio Daileader, Son in Law, Robert J Byrne and Grandson, Joshua Byrne.

In honor of Mary's remarkable life, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025, at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 450 E. Washington Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18017. A Calling hour will be held in the church from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Holy Savior Cemetery. Connell Funeral home is managing the burial.

Mary's warmth, generosity and boundless love touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family and her kind spirit. Her legacy of love and kindness lives on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Mary's memory to St. Anne's Education Endowment Fund c/o St. Anne's Catholic Church.