Helen L Cooke

Helen L. Cooke(nee Lapiczak), age 65, on Jan. 5, 2016, of Erdenheim, PA. Beloved wife of Russell; loving mother of Christina Anne of Denver, Colo., and Jeremy Russell (Melissa) of Charleston, S.C.; sister of Maria Kocylowsky (Zenon) of Alpine, N.J., and Basil Lapichak (Linda) of Sussex, N.J.; and daughter of Anna Lapiczak of Clifton, N.J. She is also survived by a wonderful extended family of sister- and brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Until her recent retirement, Helen was assistant director for health and nutrition services at the Philadelphia Corp. for Aging. Previously, she had been director of the Bensalem Senior Citizens Center, and a social worker in the city’s Fairmount section working with elderly Ukrainian immigrants. Fresh out of college, Helen taught elementary students at a small church school in Trenton. She and her husband, a retired Inquirer staff writer, met at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) 44 years ago to the day that Helen departed this life. They had been inseparable ever since, and were married for more than 42 years. They lived in England on two occasions for extended periods, including the year that Helen spent studying for a graduate degree at the University of Manchester under a Rotary Foundation fellowship. A viewing will be held on Friday from 6-8:30PM at JOHN F. MURRAY FUNERAL HOME, 1218 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, Pa. Services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Annunciation of the B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1206 Valley Road, Melrose Park, with interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Abington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Annunciation of the B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church, or to the CatholicTV.com ministry, P.O. Box 9196, Watertown, MA 02471.