Dora Ann Harris

life story

A loving mother and friend, artist, activist, comedienne, and dog-lover ❤️

About Dora

Dora Ann Harris of Pine City, Minnesota passed away on June 12th after an unexpected heart attack. Dora was born on August 17, 1960, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Overcoming a childhood fraught with losses and challenges, she became an adult determined to live life on her own terms.

Against the odds, she found a way to enroll in college and complete her degree in sociology. She was a proud graduate of St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Post graduation, she worked as a comedienne, speed dating coordinator, and a supervisor of services to youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. In 1990, she achieved her dream of becoming a homeowner. As a long-time resident of Northeast Minneapolis, she was part of a local group that was instrumental in much of the cultural revival of Northeast in the 1990s and early 2000s.

After achieving another dream of becoming a mother to twins Colby and Virginia in 1991, she opened a curio and vintage shop called Madame Dora's Antiques & Oddities, which allowed her to express her creativity and love of art.

Dora loved the simple things, like a good meal out, tinkering in her yard, creating art of all sorts, and vacationing at Lake Osakis, where she could fish to her heart's content. She welcomed people into her home and life with generosity and kindness. She sought to help those she could in ways that were available to her. She rescued and loved many dogs over the years, including Stella the wolf-dog, her “soulmate” Sebastian, and her last dogs, Hairy and Biggie. She was a lifelong activist and fighter for women’s rights.

She made art throughout her life and went through many artistic eras, including making clay mermaid dioramas, paper mache puppets, cigar box purses, and much more.

She was a loving mother who sought to provide for her children in the best way she could. In 2015, Dora let go of her home in Minneapolis to enjoy a quieter life in Pine City, Minnesota. There, she was active in local community life and enjoyed living right on a small lake, where she could watch herons, deer, snapping turtles, eagles, and beavers right from her kitchen table.

Dora had always wanted to be an organ donor, and in a final act of kindness, she was able to donate her kidneys to two people on the organ transplant waiting list. Dora is survived by her two children, Virginia (Ginger) Harris (and son-in-law, Kartik Jevaji) of Trinidad, Colorado and Colby Harris of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, as well as many, many friends and loved ones who will miss her dearly.

memorial service

Dora's Celebration of Life

June 21, 2025

Elsie's 729 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413, USA

The celebration of life for Dora will take place on Saturday, June 21st from 2-6pm at Elsie's in Northeast Minneapolis (729 Marshall St NE).

We're collecting photos for a slideshow that will run throughout the event. If you have any to share or would like to speak during the service, please reach out to Ginger at virginia.a.harris@gmail.com.

Condolences can be sent to Colby Harris at 10701 Wren St. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a women's shelter or women's advocacy nonprofit of your choice.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services