Doris Jean Zack

Doris was born on August 3,1936, in Windber, PA to the late Mathew Schwer and Mabel (Horner) Schwer. In addition to her parents, Doris is preceded in death by her husband Edward Ronald Zack Sr., her sisters Betty Horner and Helen Drillock, and her brother Fred Owen Schwer.

Doris’ survivors include her three children Doreen Alloway and husband Norm of Shallotte, NC; Sandy Hirtle and husband Norman of Westminster, MD; and Edward Zack Jr. and wife Cathy of Pittsburgh, PA; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Doris’ first memories were of living on her grandfather’s Farm in Salix, PA (Cambria County). She was proud of all of her family, yet Doris talked about her grandfather Horner whose farmhouse she lived in as a youngster prior to moving to Windber, PA when the farm was sold. Doris was active in High School activities, including cheerleading, and graduated from Windber High School in 1954.

When Doris was a youngster, the Schwer and the Zack families often gathered at the Larson “Camp” and this is where Doris and her husband Ed first met. Later, Doris and Ed were reacquainted when they worked together as lifeguards at the Windber Recreation Park. Their families gathered again on July 5, 1957 to celebrate their marriage at the Lutheran Student Center at Penn State, University Park.

Doris graduated from the West Penn Nursing School in Pittsburgh, Pa in August of 1957. She recalled not too fondly the many years working long hard shifts with very low pay at the West Penn Hospital during nursing school. Doris worked as an RN for over 30 years in hospitals, nursing homes, pain units, and rehabilitation facilities in Plattsburgh, NY, Newport News, VA, western & eastern PA, and Wilmington, NC.

Doris worked long hours, night shifts, and holidays shifts for most of her career as she moved with the family to support Ed’s career advancements, and starting work in a new facility often meant that she had the least desirable shifts. Perhaps her most meaningful and challenging assignment was caring for her non-ambulatory husband Edward as his 85-year-old primary support and care provider for well over a year. Doris had an incredible hard working, work ethic.

Despite working many night shifts, she was a loving mother who did her best to run the household and care for her children. Doris was a busy working mom, an active volunteer helping run a Girl Scout troop and she helped her children with schoolwork and Scouting activities.

Doris enjoyed traveling and developed a love for the ocean and the beach. Doris taught her children and grandchildren to swim at an early age and instilled in them a love for the water, ocean, and beach. On several occasions in the early 70s, Dori (her nickname) and her sister Betts (without their husbands) took two station wagons filled with kids and camping gear to Cape Hatteras for a week of camping and swimming in the ocean. The early beach camping adventures in Cape Hatteras evolved into an annual beach vacation in Holden Beach, NC that has been occurring for 30+ years.

Doris was fond of her sister Betts and brother Fred and they gathered frequently at the Schwer/Horner family home in Windber to play pinochle and spend time with their mother Mabel. They also gathered at the beach and traveled to California to visit their older sister Helen.

Doris was a dedicated Grammy, spoiling the grandkids that lived locally and often traveling to Colorado, Pennsylvania and Maryland to spoil the grandkids with “Grammy’s Special Supper” (ice cream sundaes with all the fixings), and gave them her full attention with songs, books and games.

Doris’ church community at St. Luke’s meant a lot to her. She valued her church community even when she was unable to be there in person. When she could be there, she enjoyed the fellowship and sermons. She was involved with the Women of St. Luke’s group. She loved Bibles and Bagels on Friday mornings, and joining friends for cards or mah-jongg.

A Funeral Service will be held July 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, located at 5869 Ocean Highway West, Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shallottefunerals.com for the Zack family.

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel.