Heather Viola Harris-Winkler

On February 22, 2013, in the comfort of her home in Annandale, VA., at age 46. Cherished and beloved mother of Alexandra and Isabella, dearly loved wife of husband Steve. Her life was taken far too quickly, but not before she courageously fought six long years against breast cancer. Diagnosed less than one year after the birth of her youngest child, she assiduously sought every medical and lifestyle solution to manage the disease so that she could see her children through their formative years. Her driving passions were her children and family, international travel and a wondrous curiosity and enjoyment of world culture and lifestyle. She enjoyed the arts in every form, appreciated the subtleties of politics, and loved period movies.

She was born in Alexandria, Virginia to loving parents, artist Millicent Rader Harris and Virginia Delegate Robert Edward Harris, and lived her entire life as a native Virginian. As a child and teen she was an accomplished figure skater, and medaled in national regional competitions. She earned a degree at Catholic University followed by a law degree at George Mason University. Her career was in legislative affairs, in her youth working as a legislative aide for her father, serving the needs of the disabled as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council, and culminating as a political appointee in the Bush administration to the Administration on Aging.

She is survived by her mother Millicent, best friend and sister Kathleen Huitema, Aunt Barbara York, Uncle Dick Rader, Uncle John Rader, Aunt Carolyn Franke, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and in-law family members who all adored her. She was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Mamie Eisenhower Republican Women’s Club, as well as the Virginia Federation of Republican Women where she served in multiple statewide roles. She enjoyed the friendship of too many to be named and the comradeship of the community of cancer fighters and survivors she embraced. Words do not sufficiently encompass how much she will be missed and how fondly she will be remembered.

Her life celebration mass will be held on Wednesday February 27 at 11:00, at St. Matthews UMC in Annandale, VA.