Dorothy Jane (Shearer) Rearich

Dorothy Jane (Shearer) Rearich of Country Meadows, York, and formerly of Zions View where she was a member of Quickel’s Lutheran Church, and West York where she was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, passed away at 6:30 a.m. September 16, 2012. She was the wife of John P. “Phil” Rearich who passed away November 11, 1999. Jane was born during the Great Depression on May 24, 1932, in Altoona, the daughter of the late Jessie Boyer Shearer Senft and Warren William Shearer. A few days after her birth, her father was furloughed from the railroad and they moved to the Shearer farm in Port Royal, Juniata County. In 1943 the family moved to York where she lived on East Philadelphia Street, attended York city schools, and worked as a tray girl at York Hospital where she made “the grand and glorious sum of 32 cents an hour.” Jane was a 1950 graduate of York High and a proud member of the clarinet section of the high school marching band. Many times she related how the band, under the direction of Elwood Sprigle, would march through the York square playing the St. Louis Blues. She was also a member of the Pensupreme Band. She was a history buff, enjoyed reading, music, feeding and watching birds, going to Hanover for a chili dog, word search puzzles, and cooking. She raised her family with a firm hand and had many colorful expressions her children called Janieisms, the best and most frequently used being: “Our name is Rearich, not Rockefeller.” Her children’s friends and her neighbors’ children were treated no differently than her own. She is survived the 9 children: Deborah Firebaugh, Steven Rearich, Roberta Rishel, Scott Rearich, Charles W. Rearich, and John Rearich II of the York area; Barbara Glick and Laura Glick of Lancaster; and Timothy Rearich of Las Vegas. Also two sisters, Barbara (Jack) Horstick of Dover, Delaware, and Mary Ann “Sue” (Ralph) Hoover of Port Royal; a brother-in-law Charles L. (Shirley) Rearich of Mt. Wolf; an uncle Walter Boyer of Texas; 21 grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 21, at Paradise Holtzschwamm E.C.C. Church, Thomasville, with her Pastor Paul Guiliano and retired Pastor Thomas Bellis officiating. The family will greet visitors starting at 10 a.m. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hanover at 2 p.m. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd, York is in charge of arrangements. The family would like to thank the staff of Country Meadows and Asera Care Hospice Services for their many kindnesses and support during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the York Rescue Mission, 367 W. Market Street, York, Pa 17401 or a favorite charity.