Betty Blackwell
ALLENTOWN — Betty Anne Blackwell died Sept. 19 at Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton. She was 79.
Born in Jersey City, she was employed for many years as a librarian for Central School in East Brunswick and later worked for Allentown Elementary School in the cafeteria.
Ms. Blackwell was a member of the New Egypt Historical Society.
Daughter of the late Lester Judd and Nettie Charlock, she was recently predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John R. Blackwell. She is survived by her daughter Helen Blackwell and her husband Darryl Merchantini, of New Egypt; two sisters, Joy Fantry of Whiting and Kay Scharf of Metuchen; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sept. 27. Cremation was private at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 601 Hamilton Ave. 6th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08629.
Joseph Daidone
ROBBINSVILLE — Joseph F. Daidone died Sept. 25 at home after battling cancer. He was 74.
Born in the Bronx, Mr. Daidone was a resident of Robbinsville for 15 years and a member of St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church. He was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in New York, and also attended Fordham University.
He was an U.S. Army veteran, having served in the 83rd Field Artillery. He was a former minor league baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, where he played second base. Mr. Daidone played on several area softball and basketball leagues, and had coached and managed for the Robbinsville Little League teams.
He retired in 2003 as a stock trader from Morgan Stanley Inc. in New York City after 25 years.
Son of the late Joseph and Jenny Daidone, he is survived by his wife, M. Elaine Weir Daidone; a daughter, Denise Daidone; his sons, Joseph M. Daidone, Donald Daidone and his wife Sandy and Michael L. Daidone at home; two sisters, Elaine D’Agrosa and her husband Arty, and Judy Rheaume; six grandchildren, David, Thomas, Donny, Dylan, Breanna and Shane; several nieces and nephews; and many close friends.
Funeral services were Sept. 29. Interment was in Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10021, att: Dr. Murray Brennan or Make-A-Wish Foundation, PO Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ 85038.
Matthew Helmer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Matthew Morel Helmer, died Sept. 24 at Capital Health System’s Fuld Campus in Trenton. He was 22.
Born in Trenton, he was a lifetime area resident.
Mr. Helmer attended Allentown schools and was employed at Jim’s Bagel Loft in Robbinsville.
Survived by his parents David Helmer and Evelyne Morel; his sister, Jenna Helmer; his girlfriend, Barbara Bonilla; his maternal grandfather, Rene Morel; his paternal grandparents, Kathleen Helmer and Warren and Pat Helmer; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Memorial service was Sept. 27. Interment was private.
Evalin Ouskin
ROBBINSVILLE — Evalin “Eva” Mattes Ouskin died Sept. 24 in Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center. She was 82.
Born in Trenton, Mrs. Ouskin was a lifelong area resident and member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church.
She had been employed with Horseman Dolls, H. D. Lee Co., and Switlik Parachute Co., and was a member of the Robbinsville Township Senior Center.
Predeceased by her parents, Josef and Eva Schön Mattes, her husband, Michael Ouskin and her sister, Anna Thomann, she is survived by her son, Michael J. Ouskin and his wife Mary; her daughters and their spouses, Marie E. and Joe Czarnecki, Evalin A. Ouskin, Andrea J. and Tom Sforza, and Jo Ann and Andy Csorba; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Willard, Tara LePage, Rebecca Ouskin, Nicole Sforza, Brett and Kyle Csorba; and her brother, Joseph Mattes.
Funeral services were Sept. 27. Interment was in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jeremy Fund, 234 Sullivan Way, Ewing, NJ 08628.
Helen Smith
ALLENTOWN — Helen VanOrkey Smith died Sept. 10. She was 88.
Born in Trenton, she resided in the Allentown area most of her life.
Ms. Smith was lifetime member of the Allentown Union AME Church where she actively served as a Sunday School teacher for several years and was the Sunday School superintendent for over 25 years. She was a member of the Church Stewardess Board and a member of the Christina Smith Missionary Society.
She was a past member of the Washington Township Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and a past member of the Washington Township and Millstone Township Senior Citizens.
Wife of the late Clarence Smith, she is survived by a sister-in-law, Marian Smith of East Windsor and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sept. 26. Interment was in Allentown Methodist Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christina Smith Missionary Society, C/O the Union AME Church, 72 Church St., Allentown, NJ 08501.

