Harriet Josephine Hokanson Strieber, 78, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2015. She was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, Texas on April 16, 1937 to Harry Carl Hokanson and Josephine Ellen Aarts Hokanson.
She is preceded in death by maternal grandparents Ellin Sophia Holmström Aarts and William James Aarts, paternal grandparents Ida Hakansson Hokanson and Anton Hokanson, her parents, brother James Anton Hokanson, aunts Dorothy Aarts Ponthier and Marie Hokanson Green, uncles Nelson Ponthier, Oscar Hokanson, Nils Hokanson, and William Hokanson, and sisters-in-law Claire Strieber Harris and E. Kathleen Strieber.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Clifford Andrew Strieber Jr., daughter Catherine Strieber Grimm and husband William Grimm, daughter Cheryl Strieber and Philip Moncravie, grandchildren Andrew, Natalie, and Marshall Grimm, niece Cindy Harris Horchoff, and nephews Kevin Harris, Wayne Harris, and Walter Hokanson, and numerous cousins.
Harriet graduated high school from Incarnate Word Academy in 1955. She attended Rice University and graduated in 1959. During her senior year at Rice, she became secretary of the student body. In addition to her academic achievements, she received a gold medal at the International Piano Recording Festival for her accomplishments in concert piano and was a member of the National Federation of Student Musicians. Harriet went on to receive her Master’s Degree from the University of Houston.
She was a long time teacher and librarian both in Houston and in Austin. Her love for the outdoors kept her gardening during the day and stargazing at night. She enjoyed many astronomy events with the members of the Austin Astronomical Society. Otherwise known as the “Moon Lady,” Harriet led full moon tours as a volunteer at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Both she and her husband shared a love for rock hunting and participated in many field trips as members of the Austin Gem and Mineral Society. Also, Harriet and Clifford were founding members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Paul Loar III, Dr. Alejandro Moreno, and the staffs at University Medical Center Brackenridge, Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital, and Hospice Austin's Christopher House.
Visitation will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 2620 South Congress Avenue in Austin on Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 6-7pm, with Rosary at 7pm. Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Yorktown, Texas on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 1pm. A Memorial Mass will be at 11:00am Friday May 8, 2015 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 5455 Bee Cave Rd. Austin, Texas.
Harriet loved the Lord and all of His glorious creation as was reflected in how she led her life as a faithful servant.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society (www.svdpusa.org), Incarnate Word Academy Scholarship Fund (www.incarnateword.org), Austin Humane Society (www.austinhumanesociety.org), or Hospice Austin (www.hospiceaustin.org).
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