Obituary of Harriet L. Prager

Harriet Louise Prager passed away on March 30, 2021 at the age of 94. She had recently moved from New Port Richey, Florida to Jefferson, WI to spend her golden years with family and new friends. 

Harriet was born to Nathan and Belle Keene on February 20, 1927 in Gloversville, New York. After graduating from Gloversville High School, Harriet attended nurse’s training school in New York City that prepared her for a career in nursing and nursing administration. 

Her nursing career also introduced her to the great love of her life, Charles “Charlie” Prager whom she met when in the hospital after he had broken his leg in a skiing accident. The two married in Albany, New York on October 17, 1948. They had 3 children: Sharon, Renee and Diane. 

Harriet worked as a nurse and Director of Nursing at Bel Air Nursing Home in Milwaukee, Wi for over 25 years. She loved her work and excelled at it. In 1996, she retired to New Port Richey, FL with Charlie to start a new chapter of their lives. She couldn’t sit still and found volunteering at several area hospitals to be very rewarding for her.  It was so rewarding that they rewarded her with numerous volunteer accolades including Volunteer of the Year, the 5 Star Volunteer Award, the most prestigious being the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for volunteering 17,000 hours over 18 years of service. She was involved in the Scholarship Committee, on the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Assoc and also on the Board of Directors of Suncoast Health and Education Foundation. 

Harriet loved animals and a party. She and Charlie had a menagerie of pets including ponies, horses, dogs, birds, parrots, and a monkey. This animal passion brought them into the sport of Professional Dog Shows, where Harried stayed involved through her life, and will be deeply missed. In dogs and life, Harriet took every opportunity to celebrate. She was a fabulous hostess (commonly playing Dean Martin and Big Band music), avid traveler (both within the US and abroad) and would shamelessly take anyone’s money in a game of cards. 

Life lessons we’ve learning from Harriet:
Live life a little unfiltered, it is more fun that way. It is important to always be presentable, wrinkled shirts are never an option. 6 minutes is the perfect amount of time for a soft-boiled egg. Four of a kind always beats a full house. Always breast your cards! Never underestimate the value of a hard-earned quarter, especially when you have a Skip-Bo deck handy.

Harriet’s family is mourning the loss of their matriarch but celebrates her life that was lived to the fullest. She is survived by three daughters, Sharon Mullen and husband, Mike, Renee Popkey, Diane Cocos and husband, David; five grandchildren, Marissa Norden and husband, Wiley, Matthew Mullen and wife Tavia, Josh Cocos and wife, Bella, Zak Cocos, Noah Cocos; four great-grandchildren, Elijah Norden, Ari Norden, Mika Mullen, Max Cocos and loving family members and friends. 

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents Belle and Nathan Keene; her husband, Charles Prager, brother, Bernard and wife, Amelia Keene and son-in-law, John Popkey. 

Private graveside services for Harriet will be held on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 at the Knesseth Israel Cemetery in Gloversville, NY. A virtual memorial and Shiva service will follow in the evening of Thursday, April 8th, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Harriet’s name to the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, Gloversville, NY. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.brbsfuneral.com
 

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