Cynthia Mary Harris

Cynthia Mary Harris

Born: November 21, 1934

Died: June 9, 2026

Cynthia Harris, 91, passed away from natural causes on June 9, 2026, in Hopkins, Minnesota.

Born Cynthia Mary Haggenmiller in 1934 at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Elmer and Gertrude Haggenmiller, “Cynnie” was an only child. She spent her early life in St. Paul, enjoying the attention of a large extended family of aunts and uncles. She made lifelong friendships at Nativity Grade School and attended St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Catherine’s University.

Her life changed forever in 1956 when a friend introduced her to former Marine and University of St. Thomas basketball star, Richard Marshall Harris, at the Fairview Palms restaurant in St. Paul.

After marriage at Nativity Catholic Church, they began a remarkable journey featuring the birth of six sons over the course of eight years. “Dick’s” career at 3M and later in the investment business took the family from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, to Lake Forest, Illinois, where the boys were raised.

Cynnie was a tireless nurturer as they grew. She juggled the demanding roles of wife and mom to six boys with remarkable aplomb, creating a warm home full of sports-induced ruckus, noisy family meals, a revolving door of family and friends, and a quiet fame for her chocolate chip cookies. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church, she was an active leader in the parish community.

As the boys grew, married, and started their own families, she became “Grandma Cynnie.” She cherished her role, alongside Dick, as an enthusiastic supporter in the lives of their beloved grandchildren. Cynnie faced her greatest heartbreak with Dick’s sudden passing after 44 years of marriage.

But she soldiered on to make the final third of her life one of service and adventure. From working at a hospital gift shop and staying fit at Curves, to being the “cookie mom” at her grandkids' high school and staying involved in church life at St. Victoria Parish, Cynnie always impacted people through her positive and loving radiance.

Visits and vacations with family and her “Women of Kindred Spirits” group found her climbing a fourteener in Colorado, cruising to Hawaii, joining high school grandkids on school trips to Mexico, swimming off remote islands in Venezuela, dancing in Sicily, road-tripping through France, river rafting in Idaho, spoiling grandkids in Germany, and welcoming a new grandchild in London.

Cynnie loved her family, but she also deeply loved her Lake Forest, Boise, Denver, and Minnesota friends. She had a passion for antiques, mushrooms, birds, butterflies, books, rocks, garage sales, museums, baseball caps, music, movies, musicals, and anything emblazoned with “Remain Curious” or “Bandanna Running.” She loved any event that showcased a Harris family member's skills, and, of course, she loved squirrels and chocolate. She was incredibly crafty, creating beloved Harris family books and decorative works of art from nature.

Yet what animated Cynnie the most, with an understated fortitude, was a lifelong dedication to her Catholic faith and her relationship with God. This was most notably present in the final eight years of her life through her interactions with members of the Glenn Senior Living community where she lived. There, the true nature of her “Little Way” spirituality, modeled after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, truly shone through. Her mission was to do everyday, ordinary things with great love. She loved to quote a maxim based on St. Thérèse’s humble philosophy: “Little Flower in this hour, show your power.”

Cynnie is survived by her six sons: Rich (Shannon), Kevin (Martha), Tracy (Margaret), Colin (Maribeth), Brendan (Annie), and Gavin (Tanja), as well as a multitude of grand and great-grandchildren.

The Harris family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Glenn and Interim Home Care and Hospice for taking such loving care of Cynnie.

A funeral mass will be held for Cynnie on Monday, June 15th at 10:30 AM at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 1938 Stanford Ave, St. Paul, Minnesota. The service will be livestreamed at: Navitiy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cynthia’s name to a charity of choice.