Vera Jane (Hummel) McCann Watson, 85, of Julian, passed into eternal rest on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013 at the Windy Hill Village, Philipsburg, where she received kind and respectful care from the staff.
She was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Philipsburg to the Late Melvin and Helen (Lucas) Hummel.
She was the youngest of their three daughters.
She was a 1945 graduate of the former Philipsburg High School. She then attended the Philipsburg School of Nursing.
She was first married on Oct. 23, 1950 to Joseph McCann. They raised their two children, Dennis and Patricia in Julian. He preceded Vera in death on Dec. 20, 1980. She later married Taylor Watson; together, they shared many happy years in Julian. He lost a valiant fight with cancer in 2006.
She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Bellefonte. 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 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.
She 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.
She’s survived by one son, Dennis McCann and his wife, Betsy (Sykes) McCann of 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, Calif., Taylor Q. Watson and his wife, Tenzin of Santa Rosa, Calif., Brandon Anderson and 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.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; one granddaughter, Dawn Marie McCann; two sisters and their respective husbands, H. Maxine and Jack Frank and Lois H. and Ray Blowers. However, her greatest loss was that of the sudden death of her daughter, Patricia Leonard and her unborn granddaughter, Patricia, in 1988.
A funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg, with Deacon Dennis J. Socash, Officiating. Friends will be received from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg. Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Osceola Mills.
Memorial contributions may be made 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.