Obituary of Sharon Lee Herbst

After a long illness, Sharon Lee Vandegrift Herbst passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on December 7, 2015, at Luther Woods Nursing Home, Hatboro, PA. She was 67. Born in Philadelphia, Sharon was the daughter of the late Jay Wilson Vandegrift and the late Ruth Margaret Steltz Vandegrift. Sharon and her family moved to Abington, Pennsylvania, while she was in the third grade. She graduated from Abington High School in 1966 and then attended Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA for a year before transferring to Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. While at Dickinson College, she met her husband, Jonathan, and earned her bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts. She married Jonathan Herbst on October 3, 1970 at her home church, Abington Presbyterian, where she later served as a deacon. Sharon was first and foremost a homemaker with strong family ties and enduring friendships. She remained devoted throughout her life to her parents, her husband, her children and her extended family. As a homemaker, she developed culinary skills which she shared to the delight of her family and friends. Sharon was also an avid gardener but she is best remembered for her love of animals. When her beloved toy poodle, Tara, died, she volunteered at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital. Finding that there was no support group for the bereavement of pet loss, Sharon started and led her own which met at the Philadelphia Public Library. In so doing, Sharon exemplified an inner strength that she carried throughout her life. Her survivors include her husband Jonathan? their 2 children, Jennifer Boyd (Richard) and Jonathan, Jr., a brother, Jay W. Vandegrift, Jr. (Susan) and five beautiful grandsons, RJ, Wilson, Duncan, Sawyer and Shane. Memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at Abington Presbyterian Church, Old York and Susquehanna Roads, Abington, PA, where friends will be received from 2:00 PM until the time of the service and at a reception after the service. Interment at Hillside Cemetery was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Home At Last Dog Rescue, P.O, Box 1341 North Wales, PA 19454 or Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Phila., PA 19106.