Obituary: Helen Mary (Dabrowski) Morse

Helen Mary (Dabrowski) Morse, age 80, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The Landing in North Haven, CT, after an extended illness.

Helen was born in Muskegon, MI, on April 7, 1943, daughter of the late Paul and Julia (Sepura) Dabrowski. She grew up in Muskegon with her two brothers in a house built by their father on Blodgett Street. She remained forever proud of her Polish heritage and lakeside Michigan roots, reminiscing about attending Bunker Hill School and spending time at McGraft Park.

She graduated from Greater Muskegon Catholic Central High School in 1961 and enjoyed the summers working at Auburn’s A&W Drive-In on Lakeshore Drive. She matriculated at Mercy Central School of Nursing in Grand Rapids (alongside her cousin Rosalie), qualified as a Registered Nurse, and then moved to Florida in 1965 to work at Variety Children’s Hospital. There she met and fell in love with Stephen K. Morse, a Coast Guardsman stationed in Miami. They married in June 1966 in Villa Park, IL, and moved to Chula Vista, CA, where they welcomed their first three children (Stephen II, Robert, and Julia). The family relocated to Shelton, CT, in 1977, where they welcomed their fourth child (Elizabeth), and which became their home for the next 43 years.

Above all else, Helen loved to help others, making many lifelong friends while volunteering and working in the Shelton community. She was active in her parish through the Women of St. Lawrence, and logged over 850 volunteer hours at Shelton Lakes Nursing Home, where she led craft projects for residents. Helen also worked part-time as a nurse for Shelton Public Schools and as a receptionist at Huntington Medical Care Associates.

Helen had an exceptional talent for crafts, especially sewing and knitting. She started sewing in elementary school, and made many of her own clothes throughout high school. From 1966 to 2018, each new member of the Morse family received a large Christmas stocking proudly designed and sewn by Helen. She was known to knit blankets, winter hats, scarves, and baby booties. She also loved continuing Dabrowski family traditions, such as preparing food to be blessed in each spring’s Polish Easter Basket and making pierogi from scratch on Christmas Eve.

Helen was an adored grandmother who shared her gifts of baking, craft projects, and gardening with her grandchildren. She was also a beloved friend and confidant; she could often be found at the kitchen table having coffee or tea and laughing with friends. Helen will be remembered as a woman of great generosity and faith, especially her devotion to Mary, possessing a deep love for family and traditions, and a passion for taking care of both children and seniors.

Helen was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Stephen, as well as her older brother, Stanley Dabrowski. She is survived by her four children: Stephen Morse II and his wife Maureen of Falmouth, MA; Robert Morse and his wife Kimberly of North Wales, PA; Julia Donaldson and her husband Brian of East Longmeadow, MA; and Elizabeth Luoma and her husband Jeffrey of North Haven, CT; and 12 grandchildren: Ryan, Kyle, Kathleen, Matthew, Michael, Sean, Lindsey, David, Erik, Kaitlyn, James, and Ruth. She is also survived by her younger brother Edward Dabrowski and his wife Sue of Bloomington, IL, and Kay Dabrowski, wife of her late brother, Stanley, of Chicago, IL.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, June 2nd, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church, 505 Shelton Avenue, Shelton, CT, followed by a reception at Huntington Congregational Church, 19 Church Street, Shelton, CT.

Interment services are planned for Saturday, July 8th, at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1915 Park Street, Muskegon, MI.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Helen’s memory to Catholic Charities USA, 2050 Ballenger Avenue, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314 or catholiccharitiesusa.org. Online condolences may be left for Helen’s family at riverviewfh.com.