Nora Arquit

Nora Constance Harris Arquit of Ithaca, NY, passed away at the age of 91 on Wednesday, August 6, 2014. The daughter of the late Samuel Elton George and Esther Gillen Harris, she was born on June 30, 1923 in Brushton, NY.

Nora received her BS and MS degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and lived in Ithaca for many years. She was a high school band director and taught music at schools throughout New York State, to include Waddington, North Lawrence, Clifton Fine, Newfield, Jeffersonville, Au Sable Forks, Penn Yan, Massena and Susquehanna Valley. She took her marching bands to countless competitions, and attended the St. Lawrence County Band Day in Gouverneur for almost 4 decades. Her most proud moments included guest conducting the US Air Force Band and taking two youth bands to the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. She was actively involved with several organizations, including the Women Band Directors International (charter member), American School Band Directors Association and Daughters of the American Revolution. She had a passion for photography and genealogy research, which kept her busy during her retirement years.

Survivors include two daughters, Christine Arquit of Ithaca, NY and Candy Arquit Martel and her husband Ron of Bellingham, MA; one son, Kevin Arquit and his wife Margi of Harrison, NY; seven grandchildren, Ben Arquit, Sam Arquit, Jamie Arquit, Katie Arquit, Trevor Martel, Cullen Martel and Taryn Martel.

She was predeceased by her husband Gordon J. Arquit in 2004; one sister, Susan Harris Carr; and one brother, Benjamin Elton Harris.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on August 8, 2014 at St. Mary's Church in Brushton, NY. Burial was in St. Peter's Cemetery, Brushton, NY.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY. www.Harris-FH.com