Marion Madeline Harris-Hatcher

Marion Madeline “Standing She Bear” Harris-Hatcher of Mashantucket was called home to the Great Creator on the Wings of Eagles Saturday July 1, 2023. She passed peacefully at Backus Hospital Norwich with family by her side and believing she was on a cruise where the food wasn’t very good! Marion (Bunny) was born on July 13, 1936 in Willimantic the daughter of the late Stanley Freeman Harris Sr. and late Marion “Red Feather” Sebastian Curry. Her stepmother the late Hannah Harris-Marshall lovingly raised her.

Marion was a woman who prayed daily for the health and safety of her family and was known to correct you if you quoted scripture wrong. She proudly carried herself like a lady and was blessed to have a fighting spirit which translated into an honest and open understanding of right and wrong. She was not afraid to stand up for right and was not afraid to give you a piece of her mind especially if you were wrong.

Marion had a wonderful and quirky sense of humor that she continued to exhibit toward family, her caregivers, doctors, and nurses. She loved watching old black & white movies especially cowboy movies, was a ferocious follower and fan of UCONN men’s and women’s basketball, tennis, and her beloved Boston Red Sox. She was known to cheer and holler at the television. She abhorred the New York Yankees and would happily curse them if they were winning.

Until her death, Marion was the oldest living member of the Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribal Nation. She was the beloved mother of three daughters Karen Jean Hatcher-Sneed and Madeline Hatcher (pre-deceased), Kimberly Ann Peters (Hatcher-White), grandsons Joseph Nikita Peters Jr. (Elizabeth), Joshua Marc Hatcher-Sneed (Gere), great-grandchildren Gianna Rose and Michael Romeo Peters. She was pre-deceased by brothers Stanley “Standing Oak” Harris Jr., Paul Harris, Calvin Harris, sisters Barbara and Carol Curry and her beloved cat Naomi. She is survived by a brother Pedro “Silver Wolf” Johnson (Linda), sisters Shirley “Laughing Woman” Treffers (Peter) and Reatha Jenkins, and in addition to many relatives and faithful friends, especially caregivers Linda Church and Adrianna Smith.

Marion loved being a nurse. She graduated from Windham Regional Technical School’s nursing program and embarked on a long career as a Licensed Practical Nurse working at Willimantic Memorial (Windham) Hospital and other long-term care facilities before retiring.

Marion was a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Willimantic where she taught Sunday school for many years and the Mashantucket Pequot Spiritual Center. She was a proud member and Past Matron of Electa Chapter #7 Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star New London, Past Grand District Deputy of Prince Hall Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and Past Most Ancient Matron of Heroines of Jericho of New London.

Service will take place Monday July 10 at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket CT 06338. Family and friends will gather at 10 a.m. Service begins at 11:00 a.m. followed by burial in the Mashantucket Pequot Old Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marion’s honor can be made to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum or the Drop-In Learning Center, 76 Federal Street New London, CT 06320.

Church and Allen Funeral Home of Norwich are in charge of arrangements.