Born Harriet Elizabeth Helms on February 18, 1943 in Jersey City, NJ. She lost her father at age 10 in a car accident and grew up with her mother, two sisters, and the influence of her Aunt Pat. Her first marriage was to Jack Wagniere. After her divorce, she turned down Steve Kupka’s marriage proposals several times before finally tying the knot on August 4, 1990. They were married for 24 years until Steve’s passing in 2014.

Harriet received her bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and her master’s from Farleigh Dickinson University where she also taught. Her writing skills in her job with Hoffman LaRoche also supported her many years of teaching English at Wayne Hills High School.

Harriet traveled extensively as that was always a desire of hers. She was part of a three-week Astara trip to Egypt, a visit with friends to England, France, and Germany, a trip to India, and to Machu Pichu in Peru. She traveled in the United States to see Steve in California, visit relatives in Kentucky, and stay with friends in Colorado.

Another passion of Harriet’s was her love of cats, especially Skye. At one point she took care of 11 outdoor cats (including a heated igloo in the winter) as well as a dozen indoor cats and kittens before she found most of them permanent homes.

Harriet was the Director Emeritus of the Metaphysical Center of New Jersey which she shepherded for 12 years from 2001 to 2013. In addition to Director, she held many positions on the Governing Board: vice-president, program chair, education director, and spiritual advisor. Harriet taught all 13 levels of the MCNJ course of study several times in the public adult schools as well as the six year course of study called the Tibetan Lessons. She was an early student in the 1970s of Donald Yott, the founder of MCNJ. An exemplary spiritual counselor and Tarot reader, Harriet also taught courses in Tarot, Meditation, and Dreams in addition to being a guest speaker at numerous conferences.

Harriet’s wisdom and insight has not only guided the Metaphysical Center for many years, but her wealth of knowledge and experience in the spiritual and healing arts has been a gift to all who knew her. A student of Theosophy, the Rosicrucians, the Lucis Trust, Astara and Catholicism as well as her own exploration of herbal and homeopathic remedies made Harriet the go-to advisor for all of us at some point.

All these facts cannot touch the spirit of the woman we all knew as Harriet. Her deep compassion, strength of character, and formidable determination along with her warm hugs and genuine smiles made her someone we are delighted to have called “friend.”

We will miss you dearly on this Earthly plane and know you will always be guiding us from the higher realms.

Harriet will be honored at our 70th Anniversary Celebration Dinner on Friday, October 16th. We hope you’ll join us.