Helen Catherine McMickle has entered into eternal rest, joining her beloved husband, Ed McMickle, on June 29, 2020.
The eldest of four children, Helen was born to Helen M. and Walter J. O’Connor on March 30, 1928 in Elizabeth.
As a young woman, Helen worked for the IRS in a secretarial capacity, often sharing her skill of typing and shorthand while assisting Ed at home with preparations for a business meeting or conference.
Edward and Helen were married on October 1, 1949, living in Newark and welcoming their firstborn in 1950. They moved to Verona in 1953 adding child #2 thru #7 within the next 14 years. They celebrated a loving marriage rooted deeply in the Catholic religion for almost 60 years. Ed was called to God in 2008.
Helen worked primarily as a homemaker full time, organizing her large family and specializing in clothes shopping as well as making her famous cakes, casseroles, and steak dinners to name a few. Aside from her home and family gatherings, Helen took pride in her appearance – anyone who knew her always commented on her flair for style, her love of colorful “outfits” (complete with matching earrings) and her awesome ability to maintain the perfect bouffant for 80 years.
As the rearing of the children came to an end, the ocean was calling and they enjoyed many years together on their boat at the Jersey shore.
Their love of the water continued with a move to Key Largo. They welcomed new adventures such as snorkeling, jet skiing, power sailing and the famous community Happy Hour with their Florida friends and family.
Helen’s life on earth was indeed full. The love she gave and received from her children was boundless. The family feels at peace in the fact that she is now with God, and reunited with her beloved husband Ed, daughter Anita, her two brothers Jack and Walter, her parents and all those family members which pre-deceased her.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Pat Taylor of Parsippany NJ, Eileen Cornell (Rodger) of Kinsale Virginia, Sue Smith of Grants Pass Oregon, Gail Sferrazza (Michael) of Verona NJ, her sons George and Steven of Verona NJ, her loving sister, Rosemary Young of Fairfield NJ, 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews as well as extended families.
The family will be holding a private service. In lieu of flowers or gifts; they ask that donations be sent to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) or St. Jude’s New Jersey chapters in her blessed memory.
