Harriet Tarkiainen

Harriet (Cohen) Tarkiainen
WORCESTER – Harriet (Cohen) Tarkiainen, beloved grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, sister, and teacher died after a brief illness on Monday, May 20th in Ocean Ridge, Florida. She moved there from Worcester in 1996 with her husband of twenty years, David R. Tarkiainen, who died in 2003.
She leaves a son, David Israel; a daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Jessica, Ali, and Raffu Cannon of Oakland, California; a stepson, his wife and children, Erik, Tracey, Ashley, and Kyle Tarkiainen of Camarillo, California. Her sister, Constance Jane Cohen died in 1988.
Mrs. Tarkiainen graduated Bancroft School and Smith College, where she majored in Art History and studied in Florence. She remianed active in the Smith Alumni Fund throughout her life and treasured reunions.
After earning a Masters in Education at Assumption College, she had a rich career as a high school educator, including eleven years teaching Special Education at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden.
Born and raised in Worcester, Harriet Cohen Tarkiainen was the daughter of Nathaniel A. Cohen and Rhonda Kulin Cohen. She was a lifelong member of Beth Israel Synagogue.
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 1PM on SUNDAY, MAY 26, AT BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE ON JAMESBURY DRIVE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF RICHARD PERLMAN OF BREZNIAK RODMAN CHAPEL OF NEWTON. Burial will be in B’Nai Brith Cemetery.
Memorial Observance will be on Sunday after the funeral and continuing  5-8 PM on Monday, May 27, at the residence of Richard Silverman, 74 Lynnwood Lane, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National  Breast Cancer Coalition or to a charity of your choice.