Helen Dolan Sherbert

FUNERAL HOME

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home - Silver Spring

11800 New Hampshire Ave

Silver Spring, Maryland

Helen Sherbert Obituary

SHERBERT, HELEN DOLAN (AGE 96)

On Friday, July 7, 2006, HELEN DOLAN SHERBERT passed away. She is survived by two nieces, Sandra Golden of LaPlata, MD and Sharon Landis of Chincoteague, VA, as well as several generations of family and friends. On Wednesday, July 12, at 11 a.m., funeral services will be held at Woodside United Methodist Church, 8900 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140. Arrangements by HINES-RINALDI FUNERAL HOME, INC.

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Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 9, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Helen Sherbert

12 Entries

Katie Chowdhury

July 24, 2006

I only met Great Grandmother once in 2002, but I remember being very impressed by her energy level. As an almost 20 year old, I thought most 92 year old women were grumpy and tired. Boy was I surprised because she had more energy than me! Great Grandmother had so much life in her! I’m glad I was lucky enough to meet such an inspirational woman. She is greatly missed…...

Linda Sherbert

July 21, 2006

I wrote my entry right after Grandmother Sherbert passed away, but it is not here, so I will write another entry.... My dear, dear grandmother, Helen Dolan Sherbert, has loomed very large in my life ever since the 1950s, when she and my paternal grandfather, Tom Sherbert, regularly visited my childhood home in Alexandria, Va., and brought us trinkets from her travels around the world. She also gave me a dark-haired bridal doll that I thought looked a lot like her and that I named Helen in her honor. I fondly remember, as well, visiting her house on Coleston Place in the early years for festive Easter egg hunts in the yard with our young cousins Shannon, Tommy and Kerry and for parties, where we grandchildren hung out in the basement to snarf down leftover party food and play with granddaddy's old slot machine. We also went over to the Dolan home for many gatherings and played the piano in the basement. Grandmother's career-woman efforts with Johns Hopkins' APL always impressed us, as did her ability to be frugal. I thought she was going to kill me once after I bought a pair of pants at Brooks Brothers in Washington, D.C. When she was in her eighties, I wrote a long essay about Grandmother Sherbert that was published in The Washington Post, and I mentioned a few experiences that I had had when I lived with her in her big house on Highland Drive. I had been working at The Post while staying in her green guest room with the balcony and a profusion of plastic flowers. In the article, I mentioned how one winter morning she had insisted, despite my protestations, on driving me in her car through a white-out blizzard to help me get to New York for a long-planned theater trip. (We were both theater junkies, and I had taken her to the Kennedy Center in Washington.) It was quite dangerous moving through the snow in the unplowed streets, but she pulled it off and got home safely. When Grandmother Sherbert was determined to do something, there was no stopping her, as my now-five cousins can attest! Around the house, she from time to time took me upstairs to see her perfectly preserved white satin wedding dress from the big day when she married my father's father. I have always been struck by how much she looked like my dad, and as I grow older, I am noticing that I am looking a bit like her. I like that thought. Not long ago, she told me that she often waved a kiss to my photo in her living room; it was a photo of my Atlanta interview with Fergie, the Duchess of York. Grandmother was so lonely; I only wish all of us could have visited her more often. I could ramble on and on about Grandmother. My most recent memories include staying with her at Riderwood just this past May, when we had a big time making salmon dinner in her kitchen. I had to borrow an industrial-size pan from the Riderwood kitchen in order to broil the fish, and I had to hold one end of it the entire time; I think she was afraid I was going to burn down her kitchen! When I returned only a few weeks later, after her fall, it was to hand-feed her and give her water by the spoonful when she was too weak to take care of herself. She knew she was dying, and I was brokenhearted. I miss her every single day. But all of us can do as cousin Tom Taylor suggested at the funeral service, and take inspiration from her courage and strength. She is still with us as long as we keep her in our hearts, and I know we will!

Peggy Sherbert

July 19, 2006

I met Grandmother in her later years. But I felt like I knew her my whole life. She always made me feel special and part of the Sherbert family. I will truly miss her. I loved all of the stories that she told me about her past and her memories growing up in Silver Spring. She was one of a kind, a true pioneer. I know she is in heaven with her parents and all of her family and friends that have passed on before her. Every day that I see her & her Mothers favorite Red Bird I know it's Grandmother letting me know that she is happy and at peace. I love & miss you Grandmother.

Sean Taylor

July 19, 2006

Grandma Sherbert had a very good sense of humor. I went to grandma's with my mom to help grandma clean out the attic. We found tons of wigs, costumes,luggage, and stuffed animals. So me being the silly guy, I got all dressed up and went to show grandma. When she saw me I was scared she was going to die right then and there because she laughed so hard. I also remember giving up my spring break to go to maryland and help grandma move into Riderwood. It was exhausting, but a lot of fun. I know I will never forget Grandma Sherbert and all she has done for me and my family. God Bless Helen Sherbert.

Kerry Stanko

July 18, 2006

Grandmother Sherbert was a true matriarch within our family. Greatly respected in business, by church and community members and most of all by our family. We will miss her and the wonderful memories of Easter Sundays, Christmas', rides on the boat, her love of a Wendy's Frosty and her own distinctive sense of fashion!

NANCY MAGERA

July 17, 2006

CHRISTINE & TOM AND ALL OF THE FAMILY WILL CERTAINLY MISS THEIR GRANDMOM SHERBERT AND WE’LL ALL MISS HER VISITS TO MYRTLE BEACH.

GEORGE AND I WOULD TAKE HER TO THE OLIVE GARDEN FOR LUNCH AND SHE ALWAYS ENTERTAINED US WITH HER CONVERSATION.

SHE’LL REALLY BE MISSED!

NANCY AND GEORGE MAGERA

MULLINS, SC

Brendan Taylor

July 14, 2006

I will miss "grandma Sherbert" immensely. She always showered my family with kind gifts and lots of love. She loved to watch me perform magic tricks. I remember one trick I did. She picked a card and then we shuffled the deck. I took the cards and threw them at the window. The card she chose stuck. But she forgot what her card was. So the trick was blown but a good laugh was had. She was a character in life, like in good books, we will always remember.

Bridget Taylor

July 14, 2006

My great-grandmother loved me. If she came to visit she always brought me something or if my mommy or daddy went to visit, she always sent me something back. We loved going to the dollar store together. She always told me how much she loved me and my drawings and to never forget her. I won't--I love you grandma

Robyn Morriss

July 11, 2006

My daughter Regina (12) and I met Helen at Riderwood where she most recently lived in Silver Spring. She befriended my daughter who would visit with her frequently. She was so proud of her long life and frequently boasted of her 96 years! She was an absolute delight to know and my daughter is fortunate to have known her. She will be truly missed as we always, always looked for Helen when we went to Riderwood to visit Grandma. I am sorry that we only knew her for a short time, but I so enjoyed her feistiness and the tenderness she showed my daughter.

Christine Taylor

July 11, 2006

Grandmother was a wonderful woman who inspired many. She was a very strong-willed woman who loved each of us in her own way regardless of our faults. She loved to tell stories of how her home was built and took pride in being able to ride her tractor, as she called it, to cut her grass. She enjoyed coming to the beach for several months at a time each year. She enjoyed going to the Dollar store, walking around Walmart and home cooked meals, but she especially loved sweets. She experienced a hurricane here one year and we had to travel with the kids to my friend, Angela's house. I think the kids drove her a little crazy that trip but once we got there she enjoyed the scenery of the mountains and being able to tell her friends she had experienced a hurricane. She was always kind to me and I will miss her dearly!!!!!!!!

Helen Sherbert at a Riderwood Party

July 10, 2006

Tom Taylor

July 10, 2006

Grandmother Sherbert lived a long, happy life as the oldest native of Silver Spring, oldest continuing member of Woodside Church, and original employee of Johns Hopkins APL. She leaves a legacy of love and care to all who knew her during 96 years in Silver Spring.

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