Obituary of Hazel Louise Morrissey

Hazel Louise Lydecker Morrissey, 86, of Martinsville, passed away in the early morning hours of December 14th. She died with her husband John Patrick Morrissey at her side at Somerset Medical Center. The two celebrated 59 years of marriage in October after first meeting at Bound Brook High School, and falling in love after a first date at the Candy Kitchen in Bound Brook, many dates walking home from school, two miles each way for John, and dozens of letters exchanged during Mr. Morrissey's service during World War II. Daughter of the late Chester Alan Lydecker and Mary Guernsey Lydecker, Mrs. Morrissey was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, raised in Middlesex, and lived the majority of her adult life in Martinsville. Mrs. Morrissey was a graduate of both Stephens College in Columbia, MO and Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she achieved degrees in elementary education. Later, she became certified to teach the deaf and hard of hearing. She worked in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, teaching kindergarten from 1945 to 1955, returning to teaching in 1964, eventually retiring her position as a special education teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District in 1988. Mrs. Morrissey was elected to serve as the first woman member of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education in1964 and was Vice President from 1967 to 1968. She enjoyed her numerous commitments to her community, including volunteer work with the Somerset Medical Center and with the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Mrs. Morrissey belonged to the Rosary Altar Society of the Blessed Sacrament parish in Martinsville, a church she and her husband helped establish. She was a member of the League of Women Voters. Mrs. Morrissey and her husband were great supporters of 4-H and she was a group leader of The Stewy Stitchers. She was also a staunch supporter of her husband's political career in Democratic politics in the town. Over the years, Mrs. Morrissey hosted many political events in her home, including parties for Senator Lautenberg, Governor Brendan Byrne and State Senator, Stephen Wiley. She spent hours in the pool every summer, swimming up to 30 laps every day, had an uncanny knack for crossword puzzles and the final Jeopardy question, and was famous for her skills at baking bread. She was also known for her annual Saint Patrick's Day party which she catered herself. Most of all, she will be remembered for her generosity and as a devoted mother and grandmother, the role she considered her best. Mrs. Morrissey was predeceased by four infants, her sister, Martha Alexander, and survived five days by her husband, John Morrissey of Martinsville, sister, Helen Townsend of Parsippany, NJ, sister-in-law and oldest friend Eleanor Morrissey, three children, Leo W. Morrissey (married to Leanne Irion) of Wilbraham, MA, Mary Morrissey-Ross of Fairfield, CT (married to Bob Ross) and Catherine (Kate) Neary (married to Scott Neary) of Riegelsville, PA, and nine grandchildren, Gwynne, Ian and Bevin Morrissey, Catherine, Patrick and Brendan Ross, and Brooke, Brandon and Hazel Neary. Donations may be made to Somerset Medical Center ( www.somersetmedicalcenter.com), The Food Bank Network of Somerset County ( www.somersetfoodbank.org), or the Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children ( www.somersethome.org). Visiting hours will be held at Higgins Funeral Home, 752 Mountain Blvd. in Watchung ( www.higginsfuneralhome.com) on Tuesday, 12/22/09 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. A Mass of Resurrection will be held for John and Hazel Morrissey at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Martinsville at 10 AM on Wednesday 12/23/09.