Obituary of Sherry Hemman Hogan

Sherry Hemman Hogan, 69, passed away on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at Laurel Square Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia, PA, after spending more than a year in hospice at the home of her daughter. Sherry died of complications of lung disease.

Sherry was born on May 19,1952, at the hospital in Bellefonte, PA, to proud parents Robert J. E. and Shirley J. Hemman. Sherry is survived by her daughter, Shannon Hogan, daughter-in-law Alyssa Hogan and beloved grandson Fletcher Hogan of Philadelphia, PA; two sisters: Joan Heron of Flint, MI, and Patti Koelle and husband Peter of Lemont, PA; her nieces and nephews: Bob Hemman III and wife Sherry of State College, PA; Mike Hemman of Bridgeville, PA; Rachel Meyer-Herron and husband Jim of Belmont, MA; Hannah Wong and husband Ken of Bartlett, IL; Kate Jones and husband Brad of Timonium, MD; and Dave Koelle and wife Kristy of Boalsburg, PA. She is also survived by her great niece Ashley and great nephews: Michael, Noah, Dorian, Alex, Gabriel, Adam, Benjamin, Charlie, Camden and Max.

Sherry will be joining her mother and father, sister Leigh Hemman Bennett, brother Bob Hemman II, fiance Frank Pipik, and innumerable beloved pets in heaven.

Sherry grew up in Centre County and graduated from State College Area High School in 1970. She went on to earn a degree in French from Penn State. With the study abroad program, she lived in France for a time. This began her love of travel. She spent years studying and living in France and Tunisia, while visiting many neighboring countries. One of her classic travel stories was escaping Tunisia in the cover of night on a plane with her little dog, Shimington.

No one career defined Sherry. She was a free spirit. A writer for much of her life, she published articles in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping, authored and e-published her book "The Butterfly Garden", and founded the Nittany Valley Writers' Network to foster up-and-coming authors. Later in life, she founded a successful resume writing business. Though her resumes were exceptional, it was the interviews, coaching, personal meetings, and genuine investment in her clients that set her apart. In her 50s, Sherry decided to become a masseuse. By far the oldest in the graduating class, she was everyone's mom and they loved her for it. Despite her small stature, she was very strong and had recurring clients like rodeo cowboys that greatly appreciated her strength. In 2018, Sherry discovered a new career as the Best Nana Ever. She spent her time knitting homemade blankets and loveys for her grandson. A chick, a panda, a bunny named Hopper. Sherry found patterns online and then modified them to make extra special gifts for her grandson Fletcher. In June of 2020, Sherry was diagnosed with a terminal illness. With covid raging and severe restrictions on visitation at nursing homes, Shannon, Alyssa, and Fletcher chose to take Sherry into their home and provide hospice care there. She spent the better part of fourteen months snuggling Fletcher, reading him books, and watching him grow into a rambunctious toddler. She had nightly movie and TV dates with Shannon. Despite her health struggles, she loved every minute of it.

Sherry was very spiritual. No one religion could define her beliefs and deep faith. She was fascinated by quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and the science behind the soul. Sherry was always a fighter. In the last two decades, she'd been told more than once that she was going to die, that she had a 1 in 5 chance, that she was nearing the end. Sherry just kept fighting. She lived her life to the fullest and loved with her whole heart. Sherry always loved butterflies, the transformation and beginning anew from the husk of the former self fascinated her. Though she will be missed, she's not gone, she's moving on.

Visitation will be 11am-1pm on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral service will start at 1pm. Entombment will follow at Centre County Memorial Park. Masks are requested at all services.  

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Sherry's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.