Our friend, longtime Orange County Historical Society (OCHS) volunteer Harriet Friis, passed away on July 5th. Many will remember her as the friendly face that greeted you at the door at OCHS meetings. Longtime members will remember her providing our refreshments (remember the OCHS citrus punch?) and for all her other work for the Society. A few will even recall that it was Harriet and J. J. Friis who originally arranged for us to have our meetings at Trinity Episcopal Church – an introduction that’s meant the world to us. But most of all, we will remember Harriet’s kindness and warmth.
Board member Tracy Smith Falk recalls Harriet’s delightful nature, her off the chart smile, her kind hosting Society board meetings at her home back in the 1990s and for her wit and charm. Harriet served as a librarian for the Long Beach Public Library system and luckily for us; shared her super powers with OCHS for many years.
A few years ago, Harriet donated not only the Friis family’s impressive local history library to OCHS, but also the remaining unsold local history books published by Friis-Pioneer Press. OCHS will continue to sell the Friis-Pioneer Press books until they are gone – not just as a fundraiser, but as a way to get these excellent books into the hands of those who want to learn more about California history.
A memorial service for Harriet Friis was held on July 16th, at (of course) Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange. She will be missed greatly!