Helen L. "Sissie" Zerbe

We Remember "Sissie" With Love... Helen L. "Sissie" Zerbe, 86, of 2499 Zerbe Road, Narvon, Lancaster County, died Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 PM in Lancaster General Hospital where she was admitted following a fall in her residence on Tuesday afternoon. Born in Bowmansville, Lancaster County, she was a daughter of the late Theodore F. and Mary Ann (Wise) Zerbe. "Sissie" was an active member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Bowmansville, where she was the first woman on church consistory, a former elder, choir member and on the women's guild. She was a co-founder, owner and president of Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center, Homestead Assisted Living and Woodland Heights Retirement Community, Narvon, which she and her sisters, Ann (Zerbe) Good, with whom she resided, Ann's late husband, Omar "Curly" Good, and the late Dorothy "Judy" Zerbe, began at their former home in 1958 as Good's Convalescent Home. She also served as Nursing Home Administrator from 1961-1998. The Home was renamed in 1960 after moving into the former estate of Dr. Walter Rigg in Caernarvon Township. She also co-owned the former Triple Z Hosiery Mill in Bowmansville in the 1940's. The mistress of ceremonies and violinist in the family musical group, "Zerbe Sisters, Curly and Little Nancy Ann", they were a feature show on local radio stations, Reading's WEEU and Lancaster's WLAN, for 13 years during the 40's and 50's. They had been on the NBC Today Show and the former Arlene Frances Show. The group also operated Shupp's Grove as an early entertainment center in northern Lancaster County. They operated food concessions and entertained for many years at the Reading Fair, and ran food stands at the annual New Holland, Ephrata and Allentown Fairs. A graduate of the former Hoyt's School of Nursing, Lancaster, and the licensed practical nursing program at Willow Street Vocational Technical School, Lancaster County, she earned an associate science degree from Elizabethtown College in 1981. Also surviving is another sister, Catherine E. Kring, Narvon; a niece and a nephew. Viewing Service A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2004, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM from our parlors and also at the church Monday, April 26, 2004, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. The service celebrating "Sissie's" life will begin at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 26, 2004, with The Reverend Robert A. Witmyer, her pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Bowmansville Union Cemetery, Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, PA.