Patricia A. Harriman, 70, of Marion, died Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Nelson Franklin Harriman, III.
Born in Wareham, Mrs. Harriman graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 1967 and received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Massachusetts Technical Institute, now UMass Dartmouth in 1971. She was a teacher for 47 years and taught 7thand 8th grade English at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School for 40 years. She retired in 2018.
Affectionately known as “Mother H” or “Mother Harriman” to her students, she taught multiple generations of families in the tri-town school district. She loved gardening, sewing and making teddy bears, many of which adorned her classroom. If a student was having a difficult time, they were known to stop by her room to borrow a teddy bear.
As a teenager Mrs. Harriman was Beach Director and a lifeguard at Silvershell Beach in Marion. She loved the beach and could be regularly found there with her children and her little red wagon.
She is survived by her daughter, Heather M. Cotton and her husband Derek of Mendon; her son, Heath Z. Harriman of Marion; her brothers, Joseph P. Zora, Jr. and his wife Jane of Marion, and Robert C. Zora of Wareham; her sister, Becky A. Zora of Mattapoisett; and her two grandchildren, Aidan and Hannah Cotton both of Mendon.
A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Converse Rd., Marion on Sunday, March 8th at 12pm. A celebration of life reception will be immediately following at The Marion Music Hall, 164 Front St., Marion.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Southcoast Hospitals Group (for Tobey Hospital in memo field), Southcoast Philanthropy, c/o St. Luke’s Hospital, 101 Page St., New Bedford, MA 02740. To leave a message of condolence, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com
