Helen L. Morrissey

Helen Louise Morrissey was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on May 16, 1934, to Mary and Leland Baker. She attended St. James Catholic Grade School, Washington High School, and St. Ambrose College.

Helen met John Morrissey through mutual friends as she attended nursing training at St. Ambrose. They went from being friends to formally dating to uniting in marriage on June 20, 1959, at St. James Catholic Church in Washington, Iowa. They were married for almost 63 years before John passed away on June 12, 2022. They both had an appreciation for music, and spending time at their lake home where they entertained their family and friends.

Helen held various nursing roles in Iowa City, Chicago and then in Davenport until she started having children. She was a long-time volunteer at Cinderella Cellar, the Kahl Home, and St. Ambrose. In December 2014, St. Ambrose honored both John and Helen by presenting them with the McMullen Award, an honor reserved for individuals who embody St. Ambrose University's mission of enriching the lives of others.

When her kids were grown, Helen renewed her interest in art, taking drawing, painting, and woodblock classes at St. Ambrose. Her box of artwork was discovered a few years ago and her family realized that she was quite accomplished (and modest). Her artwork is now framed and hangs in the homes of her kids and grandkids!

Helen was also an astute follower of politics. When she felt strongly about an issue, she had no hesitation in reaching out to her local politicians with letters and phone calls reminding them of their responsibility to support everyone in society.

Helen was proud of her family, especially her grandchildren. She early on dubbed herself the cookie grandma and never visited her grandkids without a Tupperware full of cookies in tow. She loved shopping with anybody at any time, interior decorating, gifting crazy socks, playing Euchre, and going to soccer, baseball, and basketball games.

Helen died on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Hallmar Village in Cedar Rapids.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children: John "Jay" (Cheryl) Morrissey, Marion, Iowa, Margaret (Peg) Morrissey and Mitch (Mario Andretti) Burdick, Thomas (Jennifer) Morrissey, Elmhurst, Illinois; grandchildren: Ben, Katie (Naren Bhojwani) , and Carolyn (Austin Pluff) Morrissey, Lucas Scott (Morrissey Burdick), and Sarah (Kevin Sullivan), John "Jack", and Danny Morrissey; great grandchildren Sunny Bhojwani and Kennedy Pluff; sister Margaret Joslin; sisters-in-law Judy Baker, Susan Morrissey, and Barbara Morrissey, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, John Baker. May they rest in peace.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church,1923 Fillmore Street, Davenport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. She will be interred at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to All Saints Catholic School.  Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.