Helen Bogucz

Helen Bogucz

March 12, 1928-November 24, 2024

Helen Bogucz, age 96, formerly of Wayne, New Jersey, passed peacefully in her sleep early in the morning of Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Helen was born on March 12, 1928 in Paterson, New Jersey, the sixth of eight children of parents Robert and Mary Baisch. Helen grew up on McBride Avenue and enjoyed playing in Pennington Park along the Passaic River. At age 14, Helen started playing the organ at Westside Methodist Church, starting a career that continued for more than 70 years, including serving as the organist (and often the choir director too) at Westside Methodist (Paterson), Mountain View Methodist (Wayne), First Baptist (Paterson), and Preakness Baptist (Wayne), and substitute organist at St. Peter’s At the Light (Barnegat Light) and Holy Trinity (Brant Beach).

Helen graduated from Central High School (Paterson). After graduation, Helen worked as the office manager for her brother Albert’s print shop. In September 1951, Helen’s brother-in-law introduced her to one of his first employees of his new company, saying he “is the man you will marry.” He was right: Helen married Edward Bogucz in November 1953. Helen and Ed started their lives together in Paterson in an apartment on Glover Ave. Helen served as the organist at Westside Methodist Church, and Helen and Ed were active in the Couples’ Club. And they started their life-long passion for playing a game they bought on their honeymoon, Scrabble.

In June 1956, Helen and Ed had their first child. Three months later, they moved into a new home on Heights Road, in Wayne, NJ. Helen and Ed had four children. At home, Helen and Ed enjoyed playing games of all kinds, and they passed their competitive spirits along to their children. In the mid-1960s, the Bogucz family enjoyed spending two summers at their log cabin at Lake Tamarack in Hardyston, New Jersey. Later, the family enjoyed camping throughout the Northeast, and especially at Tobyhanna State Park in the Poconos.  

Helen loved to read and learn. Over the years, she took college courses part-time. She earned her undergraduate degree from William Paterson College in 1986. Her favorite book was “A Gift from the Sea,” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, which she read every year.

In the 1980s, Helen became office manager for a doctor in Medical Park on Ratzer Road in Wayne. Subsequently, she became the manager for the whole park. Thanks to Helen’s earnings from her positions at Medical Park, Helen and Ed were able to buy a seasonal cottage at Lake Gerard, in Hardyston, New Jersey, in 1987. Helen and Ed and their children and grandchildren enjoyed many years at Lake Gerard.

Following her husband’s passing, Helen moved to Manahawkin, New Jersey in September 2003. She loved hosting her children and grandchildren at her home and taking day trips to Long Beach Island to the beach at 29th Street in Barnegat Light and to see Ol’ Barney (the lighthouse at the northern tip of the island). In Manahawkin, Helen enjoyed going to the Senior Center once a week to play poker, and taking a bus trip with friends once a month to Atlantic City. Also, Helen loved playing Words With Friends (Scrabble) online with all four of children and many others across the country at least twice a day for many years.

In June 2023, Helen moved to Victoria Mews in Boonton, New Jersey “to be close to Dad.” Mom enjoyed making many new friends at Victoria Mews.

Helen is survived by her four children and their spouses, Edward (Susan) Bogucz of Fayetteville, NY, John (Nancy) Bogucz of Boonton, NJ, Helen (John) Materazzi of Manahawkin, NJ, and Karen (Eric) Spina of Dayton, Ohio; her grandchildren Ryan Bogucz, Kelly (Michael DuBose) Bogucz, Lyca Bogucz, Will Bogucz, Kaitlyn Spina, Emery Spina, and Danny Materazzi; and many nieces and nephews.