Helen (Harris) Gricko

Helen Marie Gricko of Hazlet, New Jersey, passed away on January 26, 2025, at 76.  Helen was born on May 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, to her predeceased parents Marion and Irene Harris, where she was raised with her surviving sister, Jean Lander and her predeceased siblings, Joan Circkirillo and James Harris.  As a child, Helen met the love of her life, William (Bill) Gricko, whom she married in 1969.  The two became loving parents to Natalie and Michael before moving to Hazlet in 1974.  Helen and Bill both were active in their children’s lives, with Helen coaching softball, teaching CCD and leading a Brownie Troop, among much more.  Helen relished hosting neighborhood and family gatherings, particularly Sunday dinners with her predeceased in-laws William and Florence Gricko.  Having earned her cosmetology license during high school, Helen became a trendsetter in the 1970’s, working as a mobile hairdresser to the homebound elderly population.  Helen never fully recovered from the loss of her husband in 2016, but found solace in taking care of her family, continuing to be a proud grandmother to William and Kayla Gricko, while embarking on her ever-evolving home improvement projects which often became a source of entertainment.  Family and friends often would find Helen shoveling snow, patching her foundation, painting her walls, and climbing ladders to evict a speck of dust that only she could spy.  Helen was known by many special names, such as Helci, Mommy, Babci and Olive.  No matter her monicker, she is remembered with love, gratitude and humor by her survivors: daughter, Natalie Gricko; Scott Elliott-whom Helen called her “son-in-law”-her son, Michael Gricko and his wife, Marcia Gricko; her grandchildren, William and Kayla Gricko; McKenzie Elliott-whom Helen considered her third grandchild- her sister, Jean Lander and her husband Jack; brother-in-law, Anthony Circkirillo; sister-in-law, Arlene Gricko; her best friend, Kathy Drager-whom she considered a sister-and numerous, nieces, nephews and friends.  

In respect of Helen’s wishes, she was privately cremated.  Arrangements were entrusted to Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremations Services, Inc., 3269 State Highway/Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey   07730. For more information or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.

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