Vera Jane (Hummel) McCann Watson
Vera Jane (Hummel) McCann Watson, 85 of Julian, passed into eternal rest on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at Windy Hill Village, PSL, RD Philipsburg; where she received kind and respectful care from the staff.
She was born on November 19, 1927, in Philipsburg to the Late Melvin and Helen (Lucas) Hummel. Vera Jane was the youngest of their three daughters.
Vera Jane was a 1945 graduate of the former Philipsburg High School. She then attended the Philipsburg School of Nursing.
Vera Jane was first married on October 23, 1950 to Joseph McCann. Joe and Vera Jane raised their two children, Dennis and Patricia in Julian. Joe preceded Vera in death on December 20, 1980. Vera later married Taylor Watson; together, they shared many happy years in Julian. Taylor lost a valiant fight with cancer in 2006.
Vera Jane was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Bellefonte, PA. She was employed first as a janitor and then as a woman foreman in the Office of Physical Plant at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, until her retirement. She was well respected by her department peers at the university. She was also employed for many years as the assistant postmaster in Julian, PA.
Vera Jane served for a number of years on the Huston Township Board of Elections; and, she volunteered with many community activities in the Julian and surrounding areas.
Vera Jane is survived by one son, Dennis McCann and his wife, Betsy (Sykes) McCann, Karthaus; one grandson, Brian McCann and his wife, Terry, of Bellefonte; two great-grandchildren; one step-daughter, Beverly Walker and her husband, Herbert, of Danville, KY; six step-grandchildren, Joel Porter, of Clearfield, Julie Watson and her husband, Patrick of Fairfield, CA, Taylor Q. Watson and his wife, Tenzin , of Santa Rosa, CA, Brandon Anderson & Keith Anderson of Bellefonte, and Matthew Koepke; nine step-great-grandchildren; and a son-in-law, Dwight Leonard, of Tennessee. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who will cherish the memories of visiting with her and the family reunions she had organized through the years.
Vera Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; one granddaughter, Dawn Marie McCann; two sisters and their respective husbands;, H. Maxine & Jack Frank and Lois H. & Ray Blowers. However, Vera Jane’s greatest loss was that of the sudden death of her daughter Patricia Leonard and her unborn granddaughter, Patricia, in 1988.
The funeral service for Vera will be on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 9am at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce Street, Philipsburg, with Deacon Dennis J. Socash, Officiating. Visitation will be on Monday, October 7, 2013, from 4 to 8pm at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce Street, Philipsburg. Interment will be at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Osceola Mills.
Memorial contributions may be made in Vera’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 123 S. Sparks St., State College, PA 16801 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 205, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Online condolences may be submitted at www.beezerheathfh.com.
