Dear Rose,
I am grateful to you for getting in touch with me on December 18 to tell me about Erla's worsening condition. I was able to dig my car out of the snow on Sunday, Dec. 20 and go up to see her with my older son; we stayed for a few minutes and told  her we loved her.  When I saw the notice in the paper a few days later, I was sad that I had to be in Philadelphia on the day of the service, but my younger son Nathaniel went.  Erla was important to all of us. My sons respected her as a hard-working, honest, strong-minded woman, and my husband and she used to joke with each other.  We will always remember some of the stories she told.

It was heartening to me to see that after many long, hard years, Erla seemed to find some contentment in her last years at Conestoga View, where I visited her every few months.  She didn't complain about much and usually praised the staff, found the food fine, maybe just enjoyed not having to do everything for herself. It was a pleasure to see how some of the nurses and she would joke around with each other.  She seemed to be a pretty popular person with the staff on the floor.

Since she had outlived so many of her friends, her nieces and her church were the most important things in her life. I am glad that fate brought us together for about 15 years.  I don't think I'll ever meet anyone quite like her, and I'll never, ever forget her. On holidays we always use a covered white china serving dish she gave us when she moved out of her Mulberry St. apartment. 

I kept telling her she deserved to stop working, but she was so determined not to sit around in front of the tv. Until she got sick about 4 years ago, her independence and stamina  were truly amazing.  She lived a good, long life that could serve as a model for younger generations.

My sons and husband join me in sending you and other members of Erla's family our heartfelt condolences.

Cecile Zorach

TOP OF PAGE

Our Locations: