Shelby Zaner

Shelby Zaner, died on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at her home in Gorham, ME. She was born in Hanover to the late Glenn and Violet Haar and attended schools in Abbottstown and New Oxford, Millersville State College and Western Maryland College. She taught primary education in Littlestown, Yarmouth and MSAD 6.

While in Maine, she was passionate about helping others and was a long term volunteer at Levitts Mill Free Health Clinic, Preble Street Resource Center, and Gorham Food Pantry. Shelby was an active member of the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham and played clarinet for many years in the Fanfare Concert Band.

She loved to travel and visited much of the U.S., Canada, Central America, China, made numerous trips to Europe, and lived for a short time in England.

Shelby loved Maine. Shelby loved life. She would feed the birds and watch them every morning and go out to star gaze at night. The chipmunks were her entertainment and nemesis as they would run through her gardens. She was able to appreciate the beauty of the world around her in ways most of us fail to do. She leaves with her a legacy of happiness, love, and generosity as she strove to help those around her throughout her life. Those she leaves behind can honor her by being kind, generous and appreciate the world and people around them. We can all learn to see the beauty in life as she did every day.

Survivors include her loving husband of 55 years, Dr. John Zaner, Emeritus Professor of USM; her daughter, Dr. Rebecca Zaner, Physician and medical director at HonorHealth, Scottsdale, AZ and her husband, Hygenes Garcia; and their son, Grayson Zaner Garcia; and daughter, Suzanne Zaner, Exhibition Designer and Preparator at the Fleming Museum of Art at the University of Vermont and her spouse, Salissa Wahlers; a sister, Patricia Kelley and husband, Scott Kelley, of York; and many other dear family members and friends.

To honor Shelby’s wishes, there will be no public service. The family invites you to commemorate her life in your own way.