Maria Harper

Maria Jean Russo Harper, age 76 passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 at her home in Richmond, TX from Leukemia. She was born December 31, 1938 in Carmel, CA to the late Salvatore and Frances Ferrante Russo. Maria graduated from Junipero Serra High School, class of 1957 and then attended St. Mary's College of Nursing in San Francisco, CA. There, she met a young US Army Sergeant who was a patient at St. Mary's Hospital. Later, she would leave school to marry that serviceman, the love of her life Jesse Lawrence "Larry" Harper on August 30, 1958 at San Carlos Catholic Church, Monterey, CA. Maria was a California Italian who married as a teenager and followed her husband to South Texas where she fell in love with its people and way of life. Family and friends were her priority and she loved them all dearly. She and her husband Jesse would go on to travel and live in many parts of the world: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Venezuela and more. But she always called Texas home and would come to retire and eventually pass away in her beloved Lone Star State. Maria is survived by her son Jeffrey Lawrence Lisa Harper, grandson Nicholas Patrick Harper, and granddaughter Katherine Marie Harper all of Charleston, SC. She is further survived by her brother Anthony Elizabeth Russo of Pittsburg, CA and brothers-in-law John Ray Joy Harper of Victoria, TX and Lonnie Carol Harper of Kansas City, MO, as well as many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband of 52 years Jesse, and her younger sister Rose Russo Sweet. Special love and gratitude to long time neighbors and friends Richard and Clodell Trees of Richmond, TX who provided support and friendship to Maria that can never be repaid. Niece Bethany Harper Baker also offered comfort and companionship during Maria's final days, for which her immediate family is forever grateful. A memorial service is scheduled on Saturday December 5, 2015 at 2 PM at Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Chapel, 3900 BF Terry Blvd Rosenberg, TX 77471. A post service gathering for family and friends will be held from 3:30 - 5:30 PM at Courtyard by Marriott Houston/Sugar Land, 12655 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, TX 77477. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria's memory may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.

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Maria Harper

December 31, 1938 - September 11, 2015