Helen Thuerk

Helen Hagemeister Thuerk, 98, of Cheshire, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 29, 2026, predeceased by the love of her life Hugh Donald Thuerk in 2004. She was born May 31, 1928, in Port Jefferson, NY to Homo and Christina Hagemeister and preceded by her older brother George Hagemeister.

Helen graduated from Morristown High School in NJ and Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ and went on to an exciting modeling career with Harry Conover Agency in NYC, sharing her beauty as a runway and print model. Helen’s talents knew no limits. She won numerous painting and floral design awards, as well as golf trophies. Amongst her many joys were knitting, gardening, piano, singing, and dancing. She especially loved the seashore and cherished Nantucket as her favorite.

Throughout her married life, she lived and enjoyed many places: Morristown, NJ, Schenectady, NY (twice!), Easton, CT, Gaithersburg, MD, and Plymouth, MA. She was an active PEO member in each community she resided in.

Her family affectionately knew her as “Nina”. She was the last of her generation and our steward of family history and past stories, which she generously shared with her daughter, Christina (Steven) Pincus of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and her son, Judson (Karen) Thuerk of Hopkinton, MA, in addition to her five magical and loving granddaughters, eight great grandchildren and guests at numerous family gatherings.

A private graveside memorial will be held at the family cemetery plot in New Vernon, NJ at a date in the future.

It is with fond and loving memories of a lifetime of moments past, that Helen’s amazing spirit will endure.