Helen Emma Kascin

Helen Emma Kascin (Eckert), a lifelong resident of Union County, passed away at home in Flemington, NJ

on June 12, 2023. Helen was born in Newark, NJ on Sept 8, 1919 to Elizabeth and John Eckert.

The family moved to Union and she resided there until marrying her best friend, Michael Kascin in 1949.

Helen and Michael were married for 50 golden years. Helen and her husband Michael, built a beautiful

home in picturesque Mountainside NJ in 1953. She lived there until moving to Flemington to live with

her daughter in 2021.

Helen graduated from Union High School. Helen studied nursing at All Souls Hospital in Morristown and

became a registered nurse. She worked at GE Corp.as a nurse for many years.

Helen is survived by (leaves behind) her children, Jean (Kascin) Miller, and her husband Dean Miller,

Robert Michael Kascin and his wife, Ruth:, 6 grandchildren, Travis, Caitlin and Justin Miller, Robert,

Michael and Lauren Kascin, and one great grandchild, Ben, her brother Robert

Eckert and his wife Mary. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Michael, her brother Walter

and Frank Eckert.

She was an avid gardener. Her rock garden in Mountainside was over 100 feet long. Roses were her

specialty having over 30 different rose bushes.

As an extremely athletic person she would swim 100 laps in her pool daily. She loved swimming in the

ocean at Island Beach State Park and on vacations. Walking was another passion of hers. She would

walk around her hometown daily. She never passed a dog on the walk that she didn’t give a biscuit. If,

heaven forbid, she ran out while walking, she would go home and then come back to the pooch so he

wouldn’t feel left out. Golf was also a favorite pastime. She would play at Galloping Hill Country Club

and even compete in competitions. Her husband Michael was an accomplished golfer and most

vacations would revolve around golf courses and playing. Helen also played softball and tennis. In High

School she played basketball on the school team. Dancing with her husband Michael was another fun

activity that they enjoyed.

Helen was an accomplished seamstress sewing most of her 0wn clothing. She also loved to knit,

crochet, quilt, embroider and tat. Her crazy quilt was one of her favorite projects using all of the old

scraps from her dresses, pants and shirts she sewed for herself and her daughter.

She was a voracious reader reading The Wall Street Journal daily, many novels and magazines. The

Mountainside library was one of her favorite places to visit.

Her Catholic faith was a central part of her life. She was a member of the Rosary Altar Society at Our

Lady of Lourdes Church in Mountainside. Helen was also an Adoration Chapel volunteer.

Her many friends and relatives will miss her deeply. Feeding her friends delicious dinners and then

playing “the game” (Rummikub) was a favorite activity. Sitting around her kitchen table will be a

memory her friends will cherish when they remember and smile about the times they spent with Helen.

She could talk to anyone about any subject. Helen was extremely intelligent. One of her favorite

pastimes was to say Hi to random people at her two favorite restaurants, Il Gabbiano and The Westfield

Diner, and engage them in conversation. The owners and wait staff loved when she would come in for

dinner. She treated them like family and they loved her.

Helen’s visitation will be Wednesday June 14^th from 4:00-7:00PM at Gray Funeral Home,

318 E. Broad St., Westfield. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 10AM Thursday June 15, 2023

at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 300 Central Ave., Mountainside. Interment will follow in

Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer

condolences.