Helen O'Keefe

Helen O’Keefe (née Murphy) passed away suddenly at age 82 on February 18, 2022, following a brief illness. Her two children Maura and Neil were able to visit with her to say goodbye. Helen is reunited in heaven with her dear husband Cornelius (Con).   

Helen grew up in Morningside Heights in Manhattan. She met Con, got married in 1964, and in 1968 moved to Bellmore, Long Island, where they raised their two children. Helen and Con were active parishioners at St. Barnabas Catholic Church and School where Helen was a Rosarian. They both enjoyed their friendships made on Long Island through activities with their children’s schools and sports teams, as well as the Knights of Columbus and St. Barnabas fundraisers. Never would they miss a St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve dance. Together again, we are sure Helen and Con are dancing.   

Following the death of Con, Helen moved to Cranford, NJ, where she could be close to her children and grandchildren. She again became an active participant in St. Michael’s parish and served as a Rosarian. Helen was also a beloved Grami to her grandchildren Bryanna, Liam, Grace, Cornelius, and Maeve. Helen was predeceased by her siblings Thomas Murphy, Dorothy Garrett, and Robert Murphy. She is survived by her brother Eugene Murphy.   

Helen’s colorful personality will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. Friends and family may pay their respects on Friday, February 25, 2022, from 4 pm to 8 pm at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home in Westfield, NJ.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 10:30 am at St. Michael's Parish in Cranford, NJ, and the interment will be at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY, on Monday, February 28.   

If you wish to honor Helen’s memory, please consider donating to Brooklyn Jesuit Prep. Our family has been active supporters of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, a Catholic Jesuit middle school serving low-income families of diverse races, ethnicities, and faiths in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. BJP works to break the cycle of poverty through education.                         https://www.brooklynjesuit.org/donate