Alma Z. Sleigh, 93 of State College and formerly of (Gearhartville) RD Philipsburg, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 at the Hearthside Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in State College.
Born Dec. 2, 1921 in Coalport, she was the daughter of the late William and Martha (Jendral) Zwiener.
She married her loving husband, R. Roy Sleigh Sr., on Jan. 22, 1948 in Philadelphia. He preceded her in death on May 24, 2009.
Mrs. Sleigh was a member of the St. Thomas of Canterbury Anglican Church in Philipsburg and was formerly a member of the church choir.
She worked for a time as a governess for several families in the New York City area. She was then employed for several years at the Thomas Edison Company in East Orange, NJ.
After returning to the Philipsburg area, she completed her educational requirements to be a registered nurse and for many years worked at the Philipsburg State General Hospital.
She worked there first as a floor nurse and later as an emergency room and operating room nurse until retiring. She also worked at times as a private duty nurse.
She, along with her husband, Roy, also formerly owned and operated a dairy farm in the Centre Hall area from 1948-1953.
She was a 1940 graduate of the Beccaria Township High School and a 1947 graduate of the Philipsburg State General Hospital School of Nursing.
She enjoyed making wedding cakes for her family members and friends. She was also a prolific oil painter and an accomplished seamstress.
In addition to her parents and her loving husband, Roy, she was preceded in death by five sisters, Hilda, Helen, Irma, Anita and Matilda and two brothers, Arthur and Henry.
Mrs. Sleigh is survived by a daughter, M. Kate Sleigh of Philipsburg; two sons, Richard R. Sleigh Jr. and his wife, Jane of Boalsburg and Jeffrey Lynn Sleigh of Philipsburg; two sisters, Evelyn DeCastro of New Jersey and Patricia McIntire of Virginia; two granddaughters, Julie and Violet Sleigh of Boalsburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg, with Lay Reader Bruce Shannon officiating.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Monday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choices.
Friends may sign the guestbook at beezerheathfh.com.