Vera-Anne (Slavicek) Harris, formerly of Trumbull and North Branford, passed away on August 15, 2025. Vera's life can be best encapsulated by these words: Family, Skating, Gardening, Animals, Cooking, and the 1762 Timothy Russell House.

Family: Vera was born on March 12, 1937 in Bridgeport, CT to Vincent Willam and Anne Marie (Trojan) Slavicek. Vera was an only child who had a loving relationship with her parents and her maternal grandmother, Bubbe, whom she cherished. She grew up learning from her parents' example of the Sokol School of Thought, a strong body leads to a strong mind. She excelled at gymnastics, ballet, tap dance, acrobatics, singing and all outdoor activities. She grew up and attended school in Trumbull, later attending Bassick High in Bridgeport. Her true calling would come at the tender age of 4, on handmade skates her father fashioned for her so she could go skating. Vera's heart belonged to her family, her two cherished sons, Donald (Mary) and David (Juliana) and her beloved granddaughter Sarah Anne (Taylor), who inherited her grandmothers' love of competition.

Skating: Vera's love of skating moved quickly from a hobby to the center of her life until she finally "hung up her skates" at age 80 and retired from teaching. Vera would train with several renowned coaches in the New England area, spending many summers in Lynn, Massachusetts to polish her skills. These skills and her dedication to her craft led her to many awards and titles, the most accomplished of these was winning The New England Novice, Junior, and Amateur Championships. Vera would choose to leave competing for a career as a professional skating instructor after the birth of her two sons. She was a lifelong member of The United States Figure Skating Association and would teach in many locations including Milford and North Branford. She was immensely proud of all her figure skating and power skating students and enjoyed everyone she had the opportunity to share her love of skating with.

Gardening: Vera could take a spring of a plant, dip it in root tone or a seed given by a friend, place it in soil, and nurture the most beautiful plants. From her tomato and pepper plants raised every year from seed to her breathtaking flower gardens that she happily spent hours weeding and tending too. She shared her seeds and clippings with many over the years so we could all share the beauty.

Animals: From the turtle in the garden and Stinky her pet skunk as a child, to the baby ducks and rabbits in her yard, the snakes she embraced as friends, and would gently nudge to "move along" as she weeded, the rabbit that came home with Don in a refrigerator box, to Mr. Six Toes the cat and finally her beloved cat Pepper.  She loved them all and enjoyed their companionship.

Cooking: Vera loved to cook and can from jellies, jams, and pickles to cream cheese cookies, pies, and the much fought over hand decorated sugar cookies at Christmas. These will all be missed by those of us lucky enough to have enjoyed them.

1762 Timothy Russell House: Vera told the story of when she was a little girl she dreamed of owning a salt box house when she grew up. As with anything she put her mind to she made this dream a reality. With determination, love and hard work, and the help of her son David, she took a house and yard in need of love and transformed it into her dream. A beautiful park like setting that she was thrilled to share as she hosted her son Don's wedding in the flower-filled yard. Many happy memories were made in the house at 40 North Street, from holidays and birthdays to frog racing, as Vera could catch a frog, massage it to sleep and then cheer it on as it raced back to the pond. Some of her happiest moments were spent at 40 North Street, where she made cherished friendships with her neighbors who became a second family.

Vera's family would like to extend their thanks to the Home Health and Hospice teams of RVNA for their support. She enjoyed making friends with everyone on the team. We thank you for the sunshine you all brought to her final days.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday September 2, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at The Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Trumbull, CT.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to The Totoket Historical Society, POB 563, North Branford, CT 06471

Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home has been entrusted with Veras' arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com .

Totoket Historical Society
P.O. Box 491, Northford CT 06472
Tel: 1-203-488-0423
Web: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-preserve-the-past-and-educate-the-future