Harriet K. Doherty
September 13, 1923 ~ June 15, 2016
PORTLAND - Harriet Kathryn Doherty (Ostdick) arrived in the arms of God on June 15, 2016. Born on September 13, 1923 in Elgin, Illinois Harriet lived a life of dignity and great love and devotion to her family. Harriet was adventurous and generous and grateful for her many blessings. Born to Margaret and Harry Ostdick for whom she was named, family was always Harriets first priority and brought her abundant joy and fulfillment. In return she was deeply loved and cherished especially by her siblings, Father Rupert Ostdick, Margorie ( Todd) Banker, Sister Nadine Ostdick (deceased in 2013), Sister Patricia Ostdick, Geraldine ( Vincent) Mistretta, Bruce (Florence) Ostdick and Mary ( Charles) Burnell. Harriet married her Danny - Daniel Joseph Doherty of Derry City, Northern Ireland and together they lived in Chicago, New York City, Northern Ireland, and raised their son Thomas Patrick Doherty in Chester, NH. Harriet traveled extensively, visiting her Irish in-laws and exploring across Europe and South Africa. She especially enjoyed genealogy exploration travel investigating her German heritage. Harriets prodigious work ethics lead her to train as a nurse during World War II and had a fifty year distinguished nursing career. She was an accomplished surgical and head nurse; a patient could not have been in more capable hands than to have Harriet at their bedside. Harriet was an exceptional homemaker as well. Raising Tom as a working mom, Harriet gardened, cooked and canned pantries full of food; she knitted, crocheted and sewed to perfection. As Grammie Harriet she blessed the lives of her two grandsons John and Daniel gifting them each with her abundant love and affection. Harriet trusted in God that she would earn eternal peace and comfort. The certainty of her reward brings solace to the many that loved her and will miss her deeply. Visiting Hours will be held on Monday from 4-7PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at the Funeral Home on Tuesday at 10:15AM followed by a 11AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave., Portland. Burial will be private at Great Hill Cemetery in Chester, New Hampshire. To view Harriets memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
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The days in Maine with Tom and Kate and the boys were an opportunity to share our grief as well as the blessings of family. From the wake to the funeral to the burial we moved in unison with the awareness of the gentleness of the Spirit. May that presencefollow in the days ahead. Bruce and Florence Ostdick
– Bruce and Florence Ostdick
Dearest Harriet, you now rest in the arms of the God you served so faithfully and generously through out your life. Reunited with your Mom, Dad, Nadine and your Danny what a celebration it must have been when they saw you walking home! One can only imagine their joy and abundance of love poured out as they too enfolded you in their arms!Tom wrote the most beautiful obituary I have ever read! We all know how proud you were of him and his family in life. Now that love will encircle Tom, Kate, Jack and Danny from above and we will do our best to do the same from here!I was blessed to know you as you welcomed me so graciously as an extended member of the family. When I stop in Ireland in a couple weeks, I will be sure to “raise a pint” in your honor as a blessing to both the Ostdick and Doherty clans!My love and prayers.Arlene
– Arlene Gibson, SSND