Marie Harkowa's Obituary
Marie C. Harkowa of Preston, Maryland passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 15 surrounded by family, friends and the Angels of Shore Home Care Hospice. Marie fought valiantly against ovarian cancer for almost seven years and is finally at peace in body and spirit.
Born in New York City on September 4, 1942 to the late Herbert Repole and Minola Repole of Preston, Maryland. Marie grew up on Long Island and graduated from North Babylon High School in 1960. She attended the Colombia Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Hudson, NY from 1960-1963 where she graduated with her RN and fell in love with Joe. Once married, they moved back to Long Island where Marie began her nursing career that would span the next 45 years. Marie worked in every facet of nursing at Huntington Hospital. She was an inspirational and compassionate mentor and teacher for twenty five years in New York before finding her true niche in the hospice community of Maryland.
Marie started with the Caroline County Health Department Home Health Hospice in 1990 in the capacity of hospice supervisor before moving to Shore Home Care in January of 1997 also as a supervisor. In addition to her RN, Marie was a CHPN and certified by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association. Marie was responsible for coordinating the care of patients and their families dealing with end of life issues. She was a staunch advocate as well as promoter of the hospice concept. Marie received countless commendations and awards throughout her career the most notable being the You Make A Difference Award given by the Hospice Network of MD in 1999 and the Oncology Nurse of the Year given by the Oncology Nursing Society in 2000. In 2002 the hospice community established the Marie Harkowa Patient in Need Fund in recognition of Marie's ardent commitment to both hospice and oncology. Hospice is a family affair for the entire Harkowa clan...Marie's husband and son's built the Hospice House in Denton, MD. Marie worked tirelessly to bring the hospice concept and its doctrine to thousands of families in need. She was a woman with the soul of a warrior and the heart of an angel. When Marie wasn't working, she could be found fishing on the boat with Joe or spoiling any and all of her four grandchildren.
Besides her mother, Minola Repole, Marie is survived by her husband of 43 years, Joseph B. Harkowa, four children, Michael Harkowa and his wife, Kateri of Preston, MD; Therese Harkowa of Fort Worth, TX; Brian Harkowa and his wife Christal of Easton, Jason Harkowa of Easton, MD; 4 grandchildren, Joe and Sophia Harkowa of Preston and Lacie and Alex Harkowa of Easton, brother, Charles Repole of Manhattan, New York and niece, Jackie Braga of San Diego, Ca.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 11:00 a.m at .Our Lady of Good Counsel in Secretary , MD .The Rev. Anthony Grecco will be the celebrant. Friends may call at the Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg, MD on Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Monday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a Wake Prayer Service at 8:00 p.m. Inurnment will be held on Sat. Nov. 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Cemetery in Secretary.
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