Helen M. Ferris

Funeral services for Helen M. Ferris, age 56 of Philadelphia PA and formerly of Ogdensburg will be held on Saturday (Dec 19, 2015) at 1:30pm at the St. John’s Episcopal Church with Rev. Michael O’Donnell officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Ogdensburg Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held also on Saturday (Dec 19, 2015) from 11:00am – 1:00pm at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home. Helen died on Saturday (Dec 12) at the Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia PA surrounded by her family.

Surviving are four aunts Amal Yared of Springfield VA, Raheel Boudoumit of Toronto Ontario, Lawahiz Khoury & Souad Akkari both of Beirut Lebanon; Cousins Farid Yared, Carole Yared, Diala Yared Azzam of Springfield VA, Jean Boudoumit of Toronto Ontario, Jim Chadwick & his wife Allison of Ogdensburg in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

Her parents Richard & Hayat Ferris along with four uncles George, Wajih, John & Riad Akkari and an aunt Violet Akkari predeceased her.

Helen was born on April 22, 1959 in Ogdensburg NY, a daughter of Richard & Hayat (Akkari) Ferris. After high school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University where she was the recipient of a presidential scholarship, placed on the Dean’s List and became a teaching assistant for financial accounting. She then continued her education at Syracuse University receiving a Juris Doctor Degree and was the editor of Syracuse University Journal of International Law and Commerce. While there, she was also on the Dean’s List, a Moot Court Participant, received the highest grades in International Organizations and Property, a UNITAR Volkswagen Research Grant Recipient and a member of the Justinian Society. In 1989 she received her Master of Law in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center where she also excelled and became a Graduate Advisor, Tax Lawyer, a member of the Dean’s List and a Dana Scholarship Finalist.

During her career she was employed at the United States Tax Court in Washington DC; Fulbright & Jaworski in Washington DC; Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul; Owned & Operated Helen Ferris & Associates; Dennis George & Associates; all in Philadelphia PA; Roizman & Companies in Plymouth PA; Philadelphia Housing Authority in Philadelphia PA and the Camden Housing Authority in Camden NJ until failing health.

She was a member of the ABA, New York & Pennsylvania Bar Associations, New York County Lawyer’s Association, Board Member of Pennsylvania Resources Council, Board Member and Trustee of PHA Defined Contribution and Defined Pension Plans, and a recipient of the George Washington University certificates in Government Contract Law, Federal Contracting Law Basics, Introduction to Construction Contracting and Contract Negotiations, Contracts Disputes and Terminations and a member of the Pink Sisters Charity.

Helen enjoyed running, fashion, romantic movies, presidential debates, social events, championing the imigration rights of disadvantaged individuals, providing legal assistance to her extended family in addition to devoting much of her time towards being the sole care provider for her mother and father during the last decades of their lives.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one’s choice for curing the blind or to Helen’s beloved Pink Sisters Charity (Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters http://adorationsisters.org/). Condolences can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com