Millicent Melanie "Milly" Durco Harness

Mrs. Millicent Melanie "Milly" Durco Harness, age 96 of Madison, Indiana, was born on January 1, 1930 in East Chicago, Indiana, the daughter of Michael and Anna Chupka Durco. Her mother died when Milly was a year old and her father was killed by a train when she was only five years old. She married William James Harness on October 30, 1948 in Elkhart, Indiana. Prior to her marriage, she obtained a medical assistant degree and was employed as an accountant in Chicago, Illinois. After her marriage, she was employed as an executive secretary for two corporate presidents until the birth of her first child in 1955. She was a loving mother to two daughters, two sons, two stepsons and a stepdaughter. Milly had an avid interest in life and people as well as her great love for animals. She was devoted to her family (who always came first), her friends, her many pets as well as to the state of the world. Prior to his death, Milly and her husband had traveled to London, Paris, Rome, Hawaii, South America, and had taken several cruises to the Caribbean and many of its islands. In her travels, which she loved, she made numerous life-long friends who gave her great pleasure. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church where she had taught children's Sunday School for years. She was a former "Pink Lady" at King's Daughters' Hospital and earlier in life had obtained a realtor license. She was executive secretary of the Jefferson County Mental Health Association, a member of the National Secretaries Association, the first president of Madison's Psi Iota Xi Sorority, a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, and vice president of Madison High School Band Boosters where she helped raise funds for the purchase of new uniforms. She had also helped with fundraising for E.O. Muncie School projects while her children attended there. She had held offices in many organizations in which she participated. Milly bowled in leagues in Madison and Elkhart and had earned many trophies, plus enjoyed playing bridge with her friends. Milly's love for animals led her not only to donate and raise funds for them, but over the years she enjoyed the love and companionship of her many dogs and cats. She and her family also rescued and fostered many animals - always finding the best homes for the lost and abused. She was also very concerned about her fellow man and active about these concerns locally as well as nationally and worldwide. She kept up an active correspondence with legislators in hopes of bettering conditions for all and for our community, state, and the world. She was an avid reader and absorbed much and her feeling was that life was too short to accomplish all that she had hoped to do. The world around her was so intriguing to her. Milly's theory was that she always treated everyone she encountered as she wished to be treated and she made friends easily and for "keeps". She was always there for anyone who was in need of her help. Milly passed from this life on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana.

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A LOVING FAMILY Milly will be missed by her loving daughters, Valerie Harness of Madison, Indiana and Lori Dennison (Ray) of Jeffersonville, Indiana; her loving sons, Douglas Harness (Joy) of Denver, Colorado, and William Harness, Jr. (Bridget) of Bloomington, Indiana; her stepson, Roger Harness (Norma) of Saginaw, Michigan; her daughter in law, Peggy Harness of Palmetto, Florida; her grandchildren, Brianne Harness, Brittney Harness Simpson, Brett Harness, and Andrew Dennison; her great-grandchildren, Paisley and Beckett; numerous step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her grandparents who died in Czechoslovakia many years prior to her birth, her father, Michael Durco, her mother, Anna Chupka Durco, her sisters, Catherine Lepak, Anna Sanchez, Marie Teplicki, Helen Otto, Dorothy Nevers, Margaret Perez, and Julia Flores, her brothers, Michael Durco, Joseph Durco, and infant John Durco, her stepson, Wayne Dale Harness, her stepdaughter, Katherine Bedgood, her beloved husband of 55 years, William James Harness, died February 17, 2003.

FUNERAL MASS CEREMONY Funeral mass will be conducted Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., by The Rev. Kirstin Springmeyer at the Christ Episcopal Church, 506 Mulberry Street in downtown Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Fairmount Cemetery in Madison, Indiana.

VISITATION Friends may visit Friday, February 27, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana.

MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Christ Episcopal Church or the Friends of Jefferson County Animal Shelter. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences, remembrances, and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com

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