February 12, 1925 — September 11, 2024
Gloria S. Saberin, 99, of Chambersburg, PA, passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the Brookview Health Care Center, Chambersburg. She was born on February 12, 1925, in Wilmington, Delaware, to the late Herman E. and Margaret A. (Gulick) Shane.
Gloria graduated from Reading MA High School in 1942 and graduated with a BA in Economic Geography with a minor in art, and a certificate in cartography from Wellsley College in 1946. She married a Navel officer, lived in Japan for three years, Sweden for three years, Bermuda for four years and raised four daughters. She worked with the US State Department and the CIA.
Gloria became the Special Projects Map Researcher/Technician for the regional and transportation planning for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and did graduate studies in Urban Sociology and Transportation with Southern Illinois University in Washington, DC. She researched and mapped the first natural features map of the Metropolitan Washington region. The project was published and it remains today as a key regional planning tool.
She married her husband, Paul, in 1970. They bought an 18th century two story log home and barn on 20 acres in St. Thomas Township. Everything needed a lot of TLC; the house was fixed up and the barn was converted into an art studio and Gloria’s woodshop.
Gloria loved to travel; she toured Mexico, Alaska, Europe, and took an economic tour of China sponsored by Princeton University. Gloria was a talented watercolor artist, photographer, woodworker, author, and crafts instructor. She has several exhibitions of her award-winning outdoor photography and was featured in Pennsylvania Magazine. Gloria authored three woodworking books published by McGraw Hill and had over 20 woodworking articles published in Early American Life and Country Journal Magazines. She taught craft classes at the children’s SEEDS program and the Continuing Education Program at Wilson College. She also established the arts and crafts program in the Alternative Rehabilitation Community in Chambersburg and instructed craft activity classes in area nursing homes.
Gloria loved horseback riding, swimming, beekeeping, and growing vegetables. She always had a book to read and for relaxation. She enjoyed riding her John Deere garden tractor to mow the lawn, and she enjoyed raising her chickens and pigs. Gloria and Paul enjoyed a wonderful 35 years living on their farm.
In 2006 they moved to the Brookview Campus on Menno Haven and continued their creative work.
A very friendly person, Gloria was quick to make new and lasting friendships wherever she lived. She kept contact with several lifelong friends including her Wellesley College classmates. Another close friend was the late Tak Tsur Lama, the elder brother of the Dali Lama, with whom she met while living in Japan.
Gloria loved her four daughters and all her grandchildren. Family members loved her and called her an affectionate “Momo”. She was admired for her accomplishments, good nature, and sound advice.
Surviving is her husband of 54 years Paul C Saberin; Brother John A. Shane and his wife, Dee, of Manchester, MA; Daughters Susan and her husband, Tim, McCarl of St. Thomas, PA, Peggy and her husband, William, Anderson of Centreville, MD, Lise and her husband, Victor A., DeLeon of Annapolis, MD, and Carol and her husband, Kinley, Tener of Rochester, VT; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
Arrangements are entrusted to SimpleChoice Cremation Services Inc. of Chambersburg. Online condolences may be expressed at www.simple-choicecremation.com.
