Nancy S. (Sorver) Keenan

Nancy S. Keenan, 76, of Perkasie, long-time civic activist and elder care advocate, passed away Friday, December 24, at her residence. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles E. Keenan for 52 years until his death in 2009.

Born in Allentown, she was the only child of the late W. Franklin and Dorothy (Kern) Sorver. Raised in Coopersburg and Quakertown, Nancy was a 1951 graduate of Quakertown High School, where she was a member of the Senior National Honor Society.

She graduated from Allentown Business College in 1952.

Mrs. Keenan had been employed as a secretary at the U.S. Gauge Division of Ametek, Inc., Sellersville, for many years. She had also taught private guitar lessons in Quakertown and Doylestown for more than 35 years, having as many as 55 students at one time.

In later years, Nancy was a stringer for the Quakertown Free Press, covering Perkasie Borough Council meetings. She also wrote feature articles for the Neighborhood section of the Morning Call and compiled the paper’s "In Your Town" column.

Mrs. Keenan’s true passion was for the elderly. She became a mostly self-taught authority on elderly law and healthcare following her 1987 completion of the Close Up Foundation’s "Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council Leadership Forum" in Washington, D.C.

She served as chairperson of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council and also the Southeast Regional Council of the Pennsylvania Council on Aging.

Nancy wrote "The Prime Time" column in the Free Press, covering issues of importance to the elderly, including Medicare program changes, guardianships, and living wills.

Most notably, Mrs. Keenan was the driving force behind the new Pennridge Community Senior Center, Silverdale. Instrumental in organizing the Pennridge Senior Center Association, Inc., she started the Grub Stakes raffle, coordinating it for over twenty years. She patiently salted away fundraising proceeds in the corporation until the new center reached financial feasibility and could be built.

Her advocacy was recognized in many well-earned accolades and awards at the state, county and municipal levels.

Also active with the Democratic Party for many years, Nancy was president of the Pennridge Democratic Club during the 1980’s.

She served several terms on Perkasie Borough Council. Her attendance at educational programs on municipal accounting, wetlands protection, cable television, and downtown revitalization made her an informed, constructive Council member. She also completed the Community Information Counselor’s course at Bucks County Community College.

Recently, Nancy had been the volunteer Victim Service Coordinator for the Perkasie Police Department.

Mrs. Keenan was also proud of her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She is survived by an aunt, Grace Hessler, of Quakertown; many cousins, friends, and colleagues; and her three beloved cats: "Addie," "Teddy," and "Harvey."

Her funeral service will be held Thursday, December 30, at 11:30 AM in the Pennridge Community Senior Center, 146 East Main Street (Routes 113 and 152), Silverdale, PA 18962. Family and friends may call at the Senior Center on Thursday morning, from 10:00 AM until time of service.

Interment will be in St. Andrew’s Union Cemetery, Perkasie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be mailed to the Pennridge Community Senior Center, 146 East Main Street, Perkasie, PA 18944.