Berva Mae Damm

Berva Mae Damm, 100, of Duncansville, died Tuesday at the Presbyterian Home in Hollidaysburg from complications from COVID-19. She was born in West Decatur, one of 6 children of the late Richard and Zola (Parks) Shimmel. On May 1, 1945, she married Herbert F. Damm, the love of her life, who died on November 20, 2002.

She is predeceased by 3 sisters, 2 brothers, and 1 granddaughter. She is survived by her son Richard Dahm, of Englewood, FL, Joanne Rodgers, of Duncansville, 3 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews across generations.

A single newspaper column can't contain a century-long life. As a teenager, Berva left West Decatur for Niagara Falls, NY, where she lived for 33 years working first at Nabisco, and then at Bell Aircraft during WW2. At the war's end, she took a train by herself to California to marry Herbert as he awaited discharge from the Navy, where they lived briefly before returning to raise their children in Niagara Falls. She volunteered with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and Child Evangelism Fellowship, taught Sunday school at First Nazarene Church, organized donations for the March of Dimes, and ushered at Artpark. In 1978, Berva and Herbert retired to Davenport, FL, where they lived for 24 years until Herbert's death in 2002. She moved to Duncansville in 2003.

To know Berva was to love her and her spitfire sense of humor. Her large heart and her connection to the past will be missed by all who knew her.

A viewing will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Strange and Weaver Funeral Home in Morrisdale, followed by a service at 1:00. The family asks for donations to Duncansville EMS, 1414 Peach Street, Duncansville, PA 16635, in lieu of flowers.