757.628.1000

Ursula S. Harris


Sunrise: September 26, 1926

Sunset: May 31, 2021

Mrs. Ursula Schmitt Harris was born on September 26, 1026 at Krotoszyny, Poland.

She is the daughter of Frederyk Schmitt of Bornheim near Bonn, Germany, and the late Josefa Szarafinska of Crotmurio, Poland. They married in 1913 and had three, (3) children, the late Edmond, the late· ‘Irene Schmitt/Bucher of Frankfurt, Germany, and Ursula who escaped to Germany in 1946. Ursula. was educated in Poland and Germany, and is fluent in three languages, Polish, German and English.

Ursula retired from Federated Department Stores Accounting Department in New York City after 20 years, in 1994.

Ursula married James A. Harris one of seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose E. Harris, Sr. and Mrs. Annie Eula Lawson Harris of Portsmouth, Virginia. Ursula and James married on June 7, 1954 in Montreal, Canada. The couple moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1955 where her husband could continue universities studies to become an economist. They had two sons, James A. Harris, Jr., now living with his wife Lisa and their son Jenro, and Edmond F. Harris, deceased in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York.

Ursula and husband James A. Harris, Sr.,, A.B., M.A., Ph.D. as professor at New York University and Economist at the American Telephone and Telegraph Company relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia in 2005 and moved to Norfolk, VA in 2010 where maintaining residence.

Ursula’s father Fredryk Schmitt worked for the Polish Forest Service from 1920 to 1935; then became the Administrative Director of Private Forests on the estate of Count von Alvenslaben in Poland until his death after surgery on December 25, 1940; he is buried in Chelmna, Poland with his wife Josefe.

Josefa Szarafenska/Schmitt survived the terrible years of war and punishment for being the widow of a German was released from detainment in 1948 and returned to her home town of Chelmna where she lived until her death in 1963.

 

Viewing Sunday, June 6, 2021 12:00pm - 5:00pm Metropolitan Funeral Service 5605 Portsmouth Boulevard Portsmouth, VA 23701 Service WATCH SERVICE LIVE ONLINE Monday, June 7, 2021 11:00am Metropolitan Funeral Service Portsmouth Chapel Interment Albert G. Horton Veteran Cemetery 5310 Milners Road Suffolk, VA 23434 The family is following the CDC and State of Virginia guidelines for funeral attendance.

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Condolences(5)

  1. reply
    La Vida Clary Mason says

    May the beautiful Aunt Ursula Rest In Peace. I will always remember her as being kind and sweet woman.

  2. reply
    Willie E. Farrow, Jr. says

    Rest in peace Aunt Ursala. You were a kind soul. Condolences to my uncle James, my cousin James and his family.

  3. reply
    Dorothy Hale says

    We will always remember Ursula as a kind soul. May she Rest In Peace. Much sympathy and love to James Sr and James Jr.
    Dorothy and Larry Hale

  4. reply
    Jerzy Jan Ostoja says

    May Aunt Ula, the name by which She was known in our family in Poland, Rest In Peace. Thank You for the help in tough post WW2 times, for the letters, for staying in touch with my late mother Halina. Condolences to James Sr, James Jr and his family.
    Jerzy Ostoja and family

  5. reply
    Rosetta DeBerardinis says

    My aunt, Ursala, was the epitome of elegance and grace. Always the proper lady-always adorned in pearls!! The stories she shared during my youth were so sincere, illustrative, and warm-sometimes even funny. You shall always remain in my heart and memory. Condolences to my uncle, James, and cousin, James, Jr. Sending warm wishes of comfort from Brooklyn. Love, Rosetta McPherson DeBerardinis.

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