Elva Mae “Babe” Corbett, 84, took her seat in God’s heavenly choir peacefully on February 11, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at the VNA Hospice Serenity House in Shippenville.
Born on April 6, 1930, Babe was one of eight daughters to James and Elva Mae (Showers) Collett of Limestone, Pennsylvania.
She graduated from Clarion-Limestone High School in 1948, where she met her first husband, Jay Franklin Kesner whom she married in November 1950.
They lived in Kansas and Virginia during Jay’s military service until they returned to Clarion in 1954 and later settled in Shippenville in 1960.
Babe was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Clarion for six decades where she sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School, and was elected a Deacon in 1984.
She was active in various volunteer and charitable activities and she served for the Democratic Party as Elk Township Committee Woman for many years.
She also worked with her husband Jay’s insurance business providing health coverage to school children throughout the community.
After Jay’s death in 1976, Babe worked for Drs. Griffith and Corbett as an office manager and insurance specialist and later married Dr. L.E. “Ed” Corbett in 1983.
They were avid golfers, active in the church and enjoyed traveling with their extended family and friends.
Babe was best known as a loving and devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her three children: Kim C. Kesner and his wife Diane of Clearfield; Kristin Sue Hartzell and her husband Jim of Shippenville; and Kassi Ann Khadr of Boca Raton, Florida; and four sisters: Alice Ferguson formerly of Limestone, Helen Engle of Timblin, Sally Collett of Apollo, and Bea Snyder of Clarion.
Also surviving are her six loving grandchildren: Devin Aaron and husband Dan of Oil City, Jimmy McDonald and Ashley Kesner of Clearfield, Jay Kesner of Pittsburgh, Jasmine Egoavil and husband Gary of Lake Worth, Florida and Joshua Hunter of Boca Raton, Florida; plus four beautiful great-granddaughters: Rayne MacDonald, Ava and Bella Aaron, and Elena Egoavil who carry on her legacy.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Babe was preceded in death by her sisters: Phyllis Ferguson, Mary Yakim, and Betty Stahlman.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to be made to The Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice Serenity House, 271 Perkins Rd, Clarion PA 16214 (www.cfvna.org) or the First Presbyterian Church, 700 Wood St, Clarion (www.clarionfirstpresby.org).
Her family wishes to express deep appreciation to Dr. Robert Luderer and the extended staff at The Serenity House for their exceptional and loving care.
Family and friends will be received on Monday, February 16, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 700 Wood Street, Clarion, Pennsylvania.
A memorial service will follow the viewing at Noon with Rev. Scott Hauser officiating.
