Harriet T. Carell (born Koch) was born in Moriah, Essex, New York, on October 15, 1925, to her parents, Zygmont Koch and Frances V. (Tolosky) Koch. She was one of the many children from a big loving family that included Stanley Koch, Marion (Koch) Olsen, Frances (Koch) Vasquez, Andrew Koch, John Koch, and Edward Koch. She grew up in a close-knit community in Moriah, which had already set the grounds for a lifetime of service, commitment, and love.
Early Life and Career
Graduating from Snyder High School, Jersey City, New Jersey, Harriet went on to attend Monmouth Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Monmouth, NJ. Her interest in health care was quite evident from early on, as she entered into a very long period of service in her career as a psychiatric nurse. Having worked at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, for over 30 years, she left an indelible mark on the people who knew her either as a working colleague or as a patient. She did not desert nursing even in retirement, and continued working for the Acton Nursing Service.
Family Life
Prolific Harriet T. Koch, the late nursing icon of caring and devotion, was the beloved wife of Edwin A. Carell. She practiced psychiatric nursing for over three decades at Emerson Hospital. Her nurturing spirit extended to her family life. She and Edwin had 64 years of marriage, raising four sons together, including the actor Steve Carell. With her contribution at home and in her profession, Harriet defined a generation, and well after retirement, continued in service through the Acton Nursing Service. As a nurse and wife, Harriet was a loved member in her immediate family and to the community as a whole. Her grandkids, which included Elisabeth Anne Carell and John Carell, fondly remember her as a warm, giving person who placed a strong regard for family. Harriet T. Koch’s life speaks in volumes about service to others, first as a loving nurse and then a loving partner in the life of Edwin A. Carell.
Personal Interests and Hobbies
Her numerous interests kept her close to her community, beyond her professional work and motherly duties. In this respect, she frequented flea markets, always interested in finding some treasures or unique objects there. She was also skilled at the art of homemade preserves, a virtue she enjoyed sharing with family and friends alike. Harriet was a great fan of the New England Patriots football team. She frequently referred to their star quarterback, Tom Brady as “my boyfriend.” Her friends would always smile whenever she would say that.
Later Years and Passing
In her later years, Harriet remained active within her community and her family. She died peacefully at her home in South Acton, Massachusetts on May 7, 2016, at the age of 90. To celebrate Harriet’s life, there was a visitation held at the Acton Funeral Home on May 14, 2016, and a Funeral Mass was given at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on June 18, 2016.
She was mourned by all who loved her-family, friends, and community-yet remembered as one who lived a life of kindness, generosity, and commitment. Harriet’s abiding legacy is not only to the work of nursing but also to the love given and support afforded those closest to her.
Legacy and Net Worth
Though Harriet T. Koch’s financial net worth is unknown and was probably very modest, the real wealth in her was the connectiveness at great depth that existed with her family, friends, and the patients whom she loved. Her compassionate nature together with a commitment to nursing and love of family thus enriched all who knew her. The children, grandchildren, and an untold number of lives touched by her career as a nurse are the legacy for life.
It is suggested that donations in her memory be made to the Acton Nursing Service-a very fitting gesture since Harriet has been devoted to healthcare throughout her life. An obituary placed in The Boston Globe underscored her pledge to family, community, and profession.
The life of Harriet T. Koch reminds all of us that our real wealth is not what we accumulate in our lifetimes but the lives we touch and how much love we give. Her legacy will live on in her family, her community, and in the way she has built a legacy of care.
It is dedicated to the memory of Harriet T. Koch, an extraordinary woman whose life has been a story of love, perseverance, and family values-a shining example of the impact that one human spirit can actually have upon this world.