Catherine S. Herman-Metts

Catherine S. Herman-Metts, 96, of Wellsville, and formerly of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at her home, with family by her side. She was the daughter of the late George and Catherine (Hoerner) Sourbeer, born on April 1, 1925 in Lower Paxton Twp.

A graduate of Enola High School in the early 1940s, Catherine wasted no time getting to work. She was a switchboard operator with Bell Telephone, Mechanicsburg, and also worked in the cafeteria at Sporting Hill Elementary School, Mechanicsburg. She was employed with Town & Country, Camp Hill before spending the last ten years of her career with the Unemployment Compensation Office in Harrisburg, retiring as a receptionist. She was a longtime member of Harris Street United Methodist, Harrisburg, before joining New Bethel United Methodist Church, Lewisberry, and she loved the outdoors all her life. She was creative, independent, and never shy to try new things. She was a fantastic cook and baker, a talented seamstress and someone who loved to dance. Catherine taught swimming and lifesaving courses throughout the years and was also a sailing instructor at Pinchot Lake, Lewisberry. A skilled artist, acrylics were her favorite medium, and she participated in synchronized swimming in her younger days.

But don’t let her talents and work ethic fool you – Catherine also enjoyed being pampered. In the 1970s, she and her first husband, Don, began an annual tradition of booking cruises to the islands. But Catherine was always cold, so a week or two down south each year just wouldn’t cut it. In the late 1980s, she bought property in Florida and officially became a “snow bird.” She enjoyed having her nails done, a pedicure, and the thrill of taking the auto train to Florida (as long as she stayed in a sleeper car). She collected shells along the southwestern Florida beaches and would use them to carefully craft beautiful arrangements that looked like flowers. She was extremely generous, always paying for family to be included and spoiling them whenever possible, and she led family expeditions to Sandy Cove, DE, to go crabbing and clamming. Her family will miss her beautiful soul.

Surviving Catherine is her daughter-in-law, Nancy (Staub) Herman of New Cumberland; grandchildren, Kyle S. Herman (wife, Kelly) of York Haven and Jared S. Herman (wife, Shauna) of Dover; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Blaze, Sky, Memphis and Brinley; and a great-great-granddaughter, Birdie. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Donald K. Herman Jr. and Bruce R. “Dick” Metts; a son, Kenneth S. Herman; a grandson, Ryan K. Herman; and six siblings.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 4, 2022 at New Bethel United Methodist Church, Lewisberry.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Catherine’s church: 1495 Kunkle’s Mill Road, Lewisberry, PA 17339.