Berva Mae Damm

She was born in West Decatur, one of six children of the late Richard and Zola (Parks) Shimmel. On May 1, 1945, she married Herbert F. Damm, the love of her life, who died on Nov. 20, 2002.

She is survived by her children, Richard Dahm of Englewood, Fla. and Joanne Rodgers of Duncansville; three granddaughters; two grandsons; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews across generations.

She was preceded in death by three sisters; two brothers; and a granddaughter.

A single newspaper column can’t contain a century-long life. As a teenager, Berva left West Decatur for Niagara Falls, N.Y., where she lived for 33 years, working first at Nabisco and then at Bell Aircraft during WWII. At the war’s end, she took a train by herself to California to marry Herbert as he awaited discharge from the Navy, where they lived briefly before returning to raise their children in Niagara Falls. She volunteered with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and Child Evangelism Fellowship, taught Sunday school at First Nazarene Church, organized donations for the March of Dimes and ushered at Artpark. In 1978, Berva and Herbert retired to Davenport, Fla., where they lived for 24 years until Herbert’s death in 2002. She moved to Duncansville in 2003.

To know Berva was to love her and her spitfire sense of humor. Her large heart and her connection to the past will be missed by all who knew her.

A viewing and service were held in the chapel of Strange & Weaver Funeral Service, Morrisdale, on Jan. 10, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Duncansville EMS, 1414 Peach St., Duncansville, PA 16635.