On December 22, 2025, we lost one of the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation. Helen (Morris) Blocker was born in the Bronx Borough of New York City on September 18, 1921. She attended the Bellevue School of Nursing, and the day she graduated, she went to the Army recruiting center and volunteered to serve, saying that her older brother Lester was serving in the Pacific (he ended up being one of the soldiers at Iwa Jima) and she wanted to serve as well. Second Lieutenant Morris served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps first in Wales, caring for the wounded American soldiers; and the two weeks after D-Day she landed on Omaha Beach, and headed into France, working at a hospital that was strafed by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. It was during WWII that she was given the nickname Queenie – perhaps due to her 5'10" graceful stature and her long wavey hair twisted up on her head. After Germany surrendered, she was on a boat heading to serve in the Pacific when the atomic bombs were dropped, Japan surrendered and her boat turned around, heading back to the U.S.  Helen returned to New York to stay with her parents, Fred and Fannie Morris. Her father, who immigrated from London as a child, grew up in Canton, Ohio and still had a few relatives living there. He thought he would take the family to visit them.  The cousins set Helen up on a blind date with Robert (Bob) Blocker, who was working in the bookstore, The News Depot. Bob was also a veteran, having served in the Army Military Police in Germany.  Three months later on September 6, 1947, they were married and were together until May 24, 2001, when Bob passed away.  Helen continued to be the quiet warrior of life, nurturer to others, dealing with her loss and loneliness by wearing a smile on her face and using her inner strength to carry on.  She felt very fortunate to have her two children living in Canton – Douglas (Melissa) Blocker, and Dianne (Bruce) Braun. She adored and helped take care of her grandchildren, David, Michelle, Allison and Daniel, and later felt lucky to have 7 great-grandchildren Alex, Max, Alizah, Ben, Eve, Noa and recently June.  Each grandchild and great-grandchild has a piece of their Nana's handiwork: a quilted baby blanket and a yellow crocheted baby blanket with white lace.  Helen was a gracious wise woman, easily forgiving of others, and known for being a patient, empathetic listener.  Family was her focus throughout her life, including her brother Lester and his wife Joy, and Bob's three siblings and their spouses, Sally (David), Sheldon (Lenore) and Ray (Irene), and she was close to her nieces and nephews.  She also was close to Bob's many cousins from the Wilkof family, especially Raymond and Rossetta, Erv and Marie, Harry and Phyllis, and Alan and Estelle. She was also very close to her neighbor and friend, Bette Zwick and all the children of these cousins and friends.  Helen was a speed reader and after Bob and his long-time partner Glenn Kandell sold The News Depot, she became a regular at the library – for many years at the 25th Street branch and then when she was no longer living in her home, Melissa would pick up books selected for Helen by a librarian at the GlenOak High School library. Helen was a member and volunteer at Shaaray Torah Synagogue, she read books once a week to pre-school children at the PCMS public Montessori School.  She also kept busy playing canasta and poker with her card friends.  She kept her mind sharp doing crosswords and jumble puzzles. Although if you ask her how she retained her capacity at the age of 104, she told people it was by "eating chocolate."  When her physical challenges and the pain she managed required more assistance, Home Helpers brought assistants to her home for a number of years.  Finally at age 98, she went into assisted living, making new friends at the Windsor, and then for the past several years, at the Sanctuary Grande.

The family is grateful to her doctors, nurses, dentist, and audiologists, who helped her, over many years, stay independent.  They also greatly appreciated the staff and her dear friends at Sanctuary Grande who cared for her and brought enjoyment into her life and thank the staff of Absolute Hospice who provided extra good care that kept Helen going for almost 18 months.   To honor Helen's memory, please consider donating to Shaaray Torah Synagogue, The Stark County Library Foundation, the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association, or to the Stark County Veterans Service Commission for their holiday gifts to Veterans in need.

Funeral services will be December 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Shaaray Torah Synagogue, burial will talk place at Canton Hebrew Cemetery.

The funeral ceremony will be livestreamed and may be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJrjGI3x5k