Obituaries

Helen W. Harris

Helen W. Harris
Helen W. Harris

Helen W. Harris of Riverhead entered into eternal rest on Feb. 26, 2017. Predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Wesley, she was a most devoted mother of Christine Zuhoski (Peter), Deborah Harris and Leslie Finnican (Michael); loving Babci of Peter Zuhoski, Krystyna Bory (Daniel), Larissa T. Zuhoski and Mary-Ashley Baker (Edward) and doting Prababci of Brielle Bory and McCormick Baker.

The daughter of Jozef and Maria (Salamon) Wyrembek, Helen was born in the Bronx on Jan. 21, 1928, and graduated from James Monroe High School in 1946. She then worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan and spent her summer weekends with friends in Flanders. Helen met the love of her life at a Polish Hall dance and they married at St. Valentine R.C. Church on June 10, 1950. The new bride then moved to Riverhead and began her transition from city girl to country girl.

Helen embraced the East End with open arms and when she wasn’t dancing the polka at the Hall or sunbathing at Reeves Beach, you would find her an active member of the Riverhead Garden Club, St. Isidore Rosary Altar Society, Polish Town Civic Association, RPIC Ladies’ Auxiliary, Long Island Chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America, and Red Hat Society, to name just a few. Her limitless interests kept Helen’s social calendar full, allowing her to cultivate many treasured friendships throughout her lifetime.

A library secretary at Mercy High School while her daughters attended, she later became a teacher’s aide at both Riverhead Middle School and Eastern Suffolk BOCES in Westhampton and earned her associate degree in applied science from Suffolk County Community College in 1981.

Helen loved to entertain her family and friends at home just as much as she enjoyed traveling the world. She was never one to say no to a new adventure or a good time. A former majorette and expert baton twirler who led her marching band down the avenues of Manhattan in many New York City parades, she was the consummate cheerleader for those she loved and it was her pleasure to display the immense pride that she felt for her family. She will be dearly missed by the family and friends whom she so greatly cherished.

The family will receive visitors today, Thursday, March 2 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 3, at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Helen will be buried with her dear husband at Calverton National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting contributions for a memorial bench.

This is a paid notice.