Helen Bernadette (Powers) Morris, 87, of Port Charlotte, Florida, the Greater Lawrence area, and southern New Hampshire, passed away on Thursday, September 24th at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. Born in Methuen, Helen was the daughter of Sarah Cecilia (North) and Fredrick Stephen Powers of Strathmore Rd. Helen attended Saint Augustine School, and continued on to St Mary’s High School, and later graduated from Searles High School in Methuen. Helen went on to work for AT&T as a telephone operator in Littleton, New Hampshire. In her late teens she met, fell in love with and married Owen Francis Morris, an active duty Sailor with the United States Navy during World War II. For many years Helen traveled with her husband, living on Navy bases, even spending several years in Barbados where her husband, by this time a Chief Petty Officer, ran many businesses for the Naval Base there. When the Morris family finally arrived back home in New England, Helen went to work for the Gillette Company in Andover for 10 years, prior to retirement. In her free time, Helen, a devout Catholic, enjoyed going to Mass daily when possible; bingo and other games with dear friends; penny and nickel games at casinos or on cruise ships; going out for coffee and reading the newspaper; an avid reader who usually had 5 or more books waiting as soon as she finished one; but most of all Helen loved sharing anecdotes and endearing tales about all the wonderful, beautiful people that made up her beloved family and her cherished friends.
Helen is survived by her daughter Judith Anne Morris and her husband Steven Robertson of Portland, Oregon, her sister Dolores Powers Hewett of Atkinson, NH, her brother Fredrick Stephen Powers and his wife Anne of Atkinson, NH, her brother in law Edmund Murphy of Tewksbury, many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and dear friends. Helen was predeceased by her husband Owen Francis Morris, siblings Claire Scanlon and her husband Tom Scanlon, Miriam F. Dolan and her husband John Dolan, Justine Powers Murphy, and her brother in law Richard Hewett. Helen was also predeceased by two sweet and loving miniature poodles, Mimi and Angel.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours on Friday October 2nd from 9-10:30 at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday October 2nd at 11 AM at St Monica’s Church with burial to follow at St Mary Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Helen’s honor may be made to a choice of three charities - Bread and Roses Soup Kitchen 58 Newbury St, Lawrence, MA 01841 breadandroseslawrence.org, Poodle Rescue of New England PO Box 441447 Somerville MA 02144 poodlerescuenewengland.org, or St Jude’s Research Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN. 38105 stjude.org. For directions or to submit online condolences please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Morris family through this difficult time.