Helen M. Robinette

Helen Marie Robinette (née Seitz) died peacefully on April 25, 2025, following the last of several strokes she fought back from over three years. She died less than 24 hours after the death of her beloved husband of 59 years, Joseph Allen Robinette. Their passing, so close together, stands as a final testament to a lifetime of devotion and a clear message from her generation, that behind every great man is a great woman.

Helen was born on June 24, 1941 in pre-war, Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of four children. She attended catholic primary schools then went on to and graduated from Marygrove College with a degree in Art History reflecting her deep love of history and the arts. After college, she joined the USO, traveling across Central America and the Caribbean — including performances in the Panama Canal Zone and Guantanamo Bay — bringing music and encouragement to American service members, especially those “cute sailors!”

Following her tour with the USO, while pursuing a Master’s degree in theater and drama at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, Helen met Joe, a dashing and outgoing southern boy from Georgia. They fell in love and married six months later in August, 1965 and began building a life together.

After she and Joseph completed their graduate work, they moved to New Jersey, first living in Margate (Joe, even in Georgia, always wanted to live at the shore) then a year later, into their forever home in Richwood, NJ where they lived, raised a family, and in accordance with their wishes, “were carried out feet first!” 

After the birth of her fifth child, Helen returned to the professional world and worked at Rowan University (then Glassboro State College) in Glassboro, New Jersey. She was an instructor and advisor in the College of Communication, eventually becoming the Assistant to the Dean of Communications until her retirement, advising and teaching thousands of students. She also gave her time generously to the community — serving as a Den Mother for the local Cub Scouts, sitting on the Harrison Township Zoning Board, and volunteering in many other capacities.

Faith was a steady part of Helen’s life. She was a devoted parishioner and Lector at the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit (formerly Holy Name of Jesus Parish) and sang regularly in the Christmas Choir.

Helen and Joe raised five children — John, Anne, Michael, Christopher, and Andrew — and found great joy in their growing family. Helen especially cherished her role as grandmother to Adam, Ryan, Bryan, Braedon, Rachel, Aidan, Jolie, Mackenzie, and Nathan.

Throughout her life, Helen brought together discipline and creativity, service and humor, deep faith and a sense of adventure. Her home was a center of family life for many years and as her children partnered off and got married, she invented “Thanksmas” in order to get everyone together for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The “holiday” fell on a Helen-designated weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas in which no one had an excuse to not attend.

Helen leaves behind a legacy of tough resilience, kindness, and (most of the time) quiet strength. She will be remembered with love by all who knew her.

There will be a joint viewing for both Helen and Joseph Robinette on Friday, May 9th from 5:00PM to 7:00PM in the McGuinness Funeral Home -(Washington Township Location) 573 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell, NJ 08080. The next morning at the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit Church, 17 Earlington Ave, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 on Saturday, May 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. A Funeral Mass, also for both Helen and Joseph Robinette, will follow from 11 a.m. to Noon.  Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit Church in Mullica Hill will be graciously accepted.