Submitted by: Dan Rich

Esther M. Harris

Dec. 20, 1907 - July 27, 1997

South Bend Tribune 7/29/1997

Rev. Esther M. Harris, 89, of South Bend, Ind., died at 10:41 a.m. on Sunday, July 27, in her home.

She was a pastor's wife for 59 years, a Sunday School teacher at the Community Congregational Church, and also taught piano for many years. Rev. Harris was born on Dec. 20, 1907, in New York City, N.Y., to George and Rillie May Montando.

On Oct. 9, 1936, in New York City, as Esther Montando, she married L. Paul Harris, who preceded her in death on Oct. 13, 1995. She is survived by a daughter, Pat (Jim) Morgan, with whom she made her home; and by two grandchildren, Lori and James L. ''Chip'' Morgan, both of South Bend. She was a graduate of the Johnson Bible College of Binghamton, N.Y., and was a member of the National Association of Congregational Churches.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Community Congregational Church, with Dr. David L. D'Arcy of the Community Congregational and Pastor Rick Yohn of the River Valley Community Church officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Community Congregational Church, 19671 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County or to the Community Congregational Church. Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, is in charge of arrangements.