Loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend… always in our heart.
Harriet was born in Mexico City on July 12, 1936. She was the last child of seven. Hedwig Joesten (German) and Juan Forseck (Czech/Mexican) lived in Brooklyn NY, Laredo TX and San Antonio TX, before settling in Mexico City where their last two children were born. Harriet was part of a large, very tight-knit family, where the eldest sibling was 21 years older than her. Being the baby, she traveled extensively abroad with her parents, both to Europe and the U.S. While single she worked for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Ford Motor Co. and American Airlines, where she met her husband, Adolfo Montero. They had two children, Erika and Adolfo Jr. and lived in the house they built on her father’s property in what used to be her vegetable garden when young.
In the early 1980s, her husband decided to move to the U.S., choosing Austin, Texas. The family migrated with a student visa and Harriet studied at St. Edward’s University. During that time, she also implemented her culinary talent and opened Las Palomas Restaurant, making her recipes come to life to this day. She had to relinquish ownership, but continued in the food business by creating her own brand of salad dressings.
In 1991, she launched Harriet’s Original All Natural Dressings, priding herself on being one of the first all-natural gourmet salad dressings on grocery shelves at the time. Her businesswoman drive and saleswoman talent conquered grocery buyers at Costco (TX & CA), HEB, Central Market, Tom Thumb, Randall’s, Whole Foods, Sun Harvest and others. Also conquering the palate of customers who bought and/or tasted her products at store demos, always charming those she met.
Harriet’s loving, sweet and kind soul touched all other human souls she met in life. Everyone that knew her loved her, her extended family, friends, acquaintances, business associates, customers… she was the wind blowing the seeds of love that would come to rest in every person that crossed her path. Her optimistic and positive outlook on life and life’s challenges created an energy that emanated to others. She was truly an angel on Earth, always more concerned about others rather than herself and was driven to help those most in need, thus feeling frustrated she could not do more. She was full of energy, full of life, always facing life’s battles with a smile. Harriet loved music, dancing, cooking, traveling, promoting her dressing and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren.
There are no words to express how much we already miss her, but we take solace in knowing she is now in a better place, with her family, no longer suffering, happy and at peace. We love you, mom. You’re always with us in our hearts…
Please take a moment to leave her a message here.
If you’d rather make a donation in lieu of flowers, please donate to Aventures in Life Ministries’ current project, committed to helping the poor people of Oaxaca with medical care and education. Harriet’s heart was in Mexico, and even though her dream of returning home did not come true, helping those in need is something that can.
Visitation / Velorio HARRIET
• Sunday, Aug 28, 2022
• 2:00PM – 5:00 PM CST/CDMX
• Zoom ID : 682 177 6387
• Contact Erika’s cousin Eli Skendzic, if any technical difficulties joining Enviar Whatsapp a prima Eli Skendzic si tienen dificultades conectando +1 253 534-5315
Rosary & Service / Rosario y Misa HARRIET
• Monday, Aug 29, 2022
• 10:00 AM CST/CDMX (Open at 9:30am)
• Meeting ID: 817 8493 6142
• https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81784936142?pwd=RUxFZFJzbittdjlBR0s0SDJmMXhrQT09 (passcode: montero)
• Contact Erika’s friend Imani Aanu, if any technical difficulties joining Enviar Whatsapp a Imani Aanu si tienen dificultades conectando +1 512 815 6551 // [email protected]
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.1