Helen R. Morris

Helen Russin Morris, age 82 years, of Raritan Township, New Jersey died on Wednesday morning, August 3, 2022, in the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Helen was born on March 5, 1940 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the late Helen Ralick and Harry S. Russin. She moved to Hunterdon County, NJ in 1962 and settled in the Stanton section of Readington Township in 1979. In 2011, she moved to Flemington, where she has lived ever since.

On July 15, 1972, she married her husband of 50 years, Michael George Morris.

She was a second-grade teacher at the Woodglen Elementary School, Lebanon Township, for 10 years. She spent 12 years leading education at the Hunterdon Art Center, Somerset Art Center, and The Printmaking Council of New Jersey. In her retirement, she continued with her love of teaching as a substitute at Three Bridges and White House Elementary Schools.

She pursued a bachelor’s degree in social studies and English at Penn State University for three and a half years, and then received her Bachelor of Science in education from The College of New Jersey, Trenton, as well as her permanent teaching certificate for grades K-8. She also received a certificate in design at the New York School of Design. She was a graduate of Plains High School, Plains, PA.

Helen was an avid volunteer. She served on the Hunterdon County Board of Directors for the Visiting Homemakers Home Health Aid, as well as the Board of the Hunterdon County American Cancer Society. She volunteered with Stanton Holly Trail, serving as a publicity chairman, house chairman, and the house selection chairman. She was on the Board of Hunterdon Musical Arts, including Hunterdon Symphony, Hunterdon Chamber Players, and Choral Union. She was a Sunday School teacher and Trustee of St. Gregory Palamas Church, Glen Gardner, NJ.

She enjoyed reading and discussions with her book group, taking part in her gourmet dinner group, and spending time with her gym group friends. In her life, her hobbies included playing the piano, attending jazz and symphony concerts, power walking and skiing. She was a lover of fine art and collected several wonderful pieces. She also enjoyed traveling, whether it be to a beach on St. Barts or Long Beach Island with her family, skiing in Vermont, or visiting her children and grandchildren in California. She also spoke very well, due to many years of elocution lessons growing up.

Helen had a strong love of Christ. In 1981, under the leadership of His Grace, Bishop Peter and Father Gerard Machado, and three other families, Helen and Michael co-founded St. Gregory Palamas Orthodox Church. The first service was held on February 8, 1981, in Helen’s guesthouse. After 2 months, the community grew too large for this location, and moved to a carriage house on the farm of another founding member. Helen dedicated a lot of her time and energy in growing this parish for over 40 years, serving on the church council in various roles including President, as well as wherever her talents were needed.

Her husband Michael, died in 2010. Helen is survived by her two daughters, Jocelyn Awender and her husband Jeffery of Charlotte, North Carolina and Ashley Goldsmith and her husband Jason of San Jose, California; sisters Joan Cross of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Barbara Musnuff of Dallas, Pennsylvania, and brother Basil Russin and his wife Shelley of Kingston, Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law David Morris and his wife Gloria of Pennington, New Jersey; and four grandchildren: Madeline Goldsmith, Hannah Goldsmith, Jayden Awender, and Jackson Awender.

Calling hours will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Sunday, August 7, 2022, with a service at 6:00 pm at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, New Jersey.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, August 8, 2022, at St. Gregory Palamas Church, 5 Church Street, Glen Gardner, New Jersey with the Rev. Tristan Joseph Gall officiating.

Interment will be in Fern Knoll Cemetery, Dallas, Pennsylvania, immediately following the funeral service.

In addition to flowers sent to Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, memorial contributions for pancreatic cancer research may be made payable to Johns Hopkins University, and mailed to: Ralph H. Hruban, MD, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Carnegie 417, Baltimore, MD 21287 or given in her honor to her church, St. Gregory Palamas Orthodox Church, 5 Church Street, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826.

Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.