Obituary of Helen Annette Smith
South Plainfield, NJ – Helen Annette Smith, 79, died on May 12, 2023. Born in La Brea, Trinidad to the late Rodman and Rita (Delesia) Hackett, Helen immigrated to the United States in 1969 and resided in East New York, Brooklyn until 2018 when she moved to South Plainfield, NJ to be closer to family.
Helen started her journey in America working as a Cafeteria Attendant on Wall Street and later became a Brokerage Clerk with Shearson, which later became Shearson Lehman Brothers/American Express in New York where she retired in 2000. Helen was an active member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Brooklyn and spent many Saturdays and Sundays in the kitchen cooking and serving meals during events and services.
Helen is predeceased by three brothers – Johnny, Carlton and Charles Hackett. Helen leaves behind five siblings: Zelma, Cynthia, Barbara, Andrew and Tony along with four children: Charmaine, Sharon, Rena and Terry as well as eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Private visitation and service will be held in McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Saturday, May 20, 2023 beginning at 9:00am. A concluding service will begin at 11:00am followed by prayers in the chapel of Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that donations be made in Helen’s name to the following foundations:
Alzheimer’s Association – act.alz.org or by calling 800-272-3900
National Kidney Foundation – support.kidney.org
