Mrs. Helen R. MacKenzie

Helen Rotkewicz MacKenzie, age 97, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of Somerset, NJ, and Hightstown, NJ, passed away on February 15, 2023. Helen was born in Cliffside Park, NJ. She worked as a child with her family in their neighborhood store during the Depression. She graduated from Cliffside Park High School and Douglas College, Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ, in 1947 with a BA in history. While in college, she worked in New York City in retail at Macy’s and Lord & Taylor. Her most memorable job was at Bergdorf Goodman where she assisted movie screen stars with their private shopping excursions. Helen taught elementary education for 25 years in the New Jersey public school system, many of those years at Conerly Road School in Somerset, NJ. She amazingly remembered every child she taught over the years. She retired from the Franklin Township (Somerset, NJ) school system. Helen was an avid bird watcher. She hosted International Audubon society members over a winter when she identified a black throated sparrow, a first time New Jersey visitor from the desert Southwest United States, at her backyard feeder. Helen loved the New Jersey Shore, crabbing, Broadway Plays, tailgating at Rutgers Football games, growing tomatoes, golf, Dewar’s, and homemade fresh Kielbasa. She was recently honored with a book dedication by a previous student, author Amy Herman. Helen is predeceased by her husband, William H. MacKenzie of Somerset, NJ, her parents, Albina and Adam Rotkewicz of Koidanov, Poland and Cliffside Park, NJ and brothers Edmund and Stanley Rotkewicz. She is survived by daughters Dr. Susan MacKenzie of Elkton, MD, Laurel MacKenzie Seese (Larry) of Charleston, SC, and Jill MacKenzie of Wilmington, DE, and grandson Eric MacKenzie Thompson (Alexandra), great-granddaughter Evelyn Victoria Thompson and great-grandson Christopher William Thompson of Canton, MA. She is also survived by a niece, Lorraine Rotkewicz Andrews (Michael) of Palm Beach, FL and a nephew, Edmund Rock (Sue) of Cartersville, GA. Services will be private with interment in Franklin Park, NJ. For directions or to send an online condolence please visit www.stranofeeley.com

Mrs. Helen R. MacKenzie

August 7, 1925 - February 15, 2023

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