Harriet Smith Vanhassel

Harriet S. VanHassel, age 98, of Paris, TN, formerly of Melbourne Beach, FL, went Home on March 11, 2022.

Harriet was a devoted wife and favorite aunt. She was born and raised in Eureka, NY and graduated from Ellenville High School and George School. She continued her education at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where she achieved her RN and CRNA. She enjoyed her work as a nurse anesthetist at Columbia Presbyterian, NY; Newark, NJ; and St Lukes Hospital, Newburgh, NY. She reconnected with her sweetheart Les after twenty years. They married and enjoyed 50 years together. They retired to Melbourne Beach, FL. Harriet attended church wherever she lived. She had a lifelong love of music, was a piano accompanist, and swam regularly. She was a no-nonsense woman. She spent the last two-and-a-half years of her life with her sister, Margaret, at her niece Sally & Ron Thomas’s home in Paris, TN.

Harriet is survived by step-sons Gordon VanHassel and Alan (Susan) VanHassel, nieces Janet (Charles) Brower, Sally (Ron) Thomas, Susan Kohler, Nancy Kohler, Patricia (Anthony) Sentochnik, Linda (Clay) Clement; nephew James (Susan) Dolan; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, George B. and Kathryne Smith, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester L. VanHassel; her sisters Gertrude S. Kohler and Margaret S. Dolan (who had passed away the previous day), and one cousin who was like a sister, Florence S. McGregor.

A celebration of life will be held later in Grahamsville, NY.