Funeral Held For 'Cookie,' Wife Of Congressman Andy Harris

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ)-- Friends and family celebrate the life of Cookie Harris. The wife of Maryland Congressman Andy Harris died suddenly last week.

Pat Warren reports on her influence at home and in the community.

Comfort and condolences offered to the Harris family Monday as Maryland Congressman Andy Harris and his five children said goodbye to wife and mother Sylvia "Cookie" Harris.

"She was such a Godly woman, exuded excitement about life," said House Minority Whip Delegate Kathy Szeliga. "She's just going to be terribly missed."

Hundreds of mourners gathered at The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, where Mrs. Harris was remembered for what was described as the three anchors of her life: faith, family and friends.

Harris was well-known in campaign circles, supporting her husband's political career in Annapolis and Congress. She was highly regarded for her tireless work with pro-life organizations.

"Her passion for unborn babies---countless, countless babies have been saved because of her courage and her devout convictions to work with women with unplanned pregnancies to care for them and their babies," Szeliga said.

The Harris family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cookie Harris Memorial at Pregnancy Center North in Baltimore.

Former delegate and UN ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey was a longtime friend.

"Her love for her church, her love for her family, her love for the whole cause of human life is what everyone will remember Cookie by," Sauerbrey said.

She would have turned 58 Sunday.

She apparently died of natural causes.

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