Helen Marks

Mrs. Helen Marks passed away on January 11th, 2018 of progressive Alzheimer’s Disease; she was 85.  Born to Harry Shomberg and Eve Barnet, she was raised in Brooklyn NY, married Hyman Marks in 1953 and became a homemaker. When her children grew, she returned to college, where she studied education- earning a bachelors and masters degree from Brooklyn College. Helen worked for many years in the NYC public school system as a Special Education teacher. She very much enjoyed, and took great pride in, this work. Helen was also an avid artist, generating many lovely original paintings that she sold and gave away to family and friends. She was also fond of attending artist’s workshops and of generating reproductions of famous paintings. She and her husband Hyman were very close, and they became involved each other’s interests, and did many things together. For example, they together volunteered at the USO for many years; and many of Helen’s paintings were donated to the USO for fundraising events. Helen would often accompany Hyman on his singing adventures, and later in life Hyman starting painting ceramics. They were married for 63 years and their lives were very much intertwined. After spending most of their lives in NYC, they moved to NC to be closer to family (i.e. grandchildren). Helen was very enthusiastic about many things; her work, art, her love of Brooklyn (and her beloved Dodgers), and especially her love and caring towards family and friends. She was outgoing, enjoyed socializing, and had many life-long friendships.   Helen is predeceased by her husband Hyman in August 2017. Helen is survived by her brother Robert Shomberg and his wife Carol Shomberg of Forest Hills, NY; her children Stephen Marks of Tamarac FL, and Lawrence Marks and his wife Caryn Hertz of Chapel Hill NC; grandchildren Noah Marks and fiancé Hannah Schutzengel, Samuel Marks, and Benjamin Marks.

Services will be held 2 pm on Sunday Jan 14^th, at Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 West Cornwallis Road, Durham, NC 27705; Interment to follow at 3:30 pm at Judea Reform Congregation Cemetery, 2560 Jones Ferry Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Officiating will be Rabbi Larry Bach. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Judea Reform Congregation Arts fund.