Barbara Ann Zorn

Barbara Ann Zorn, age 86, of Parkville, formerly of Bel Air and Timonium, Maryland passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving daughters. Barbara was the beloved wife of Richard Anders Zorn, who preceded her in death in 2007.

Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, she was the youngest child of Louis and Lona (Schmitt) DeGreif. All of Barbara’s siblings preceded her in death: Marie Tibbels, Joseph DeGreif, Norma Gallagher and Louis DeGreif.

Barbara was a stay-at-home mom until Donna and Sue were school age. At that time, she entered the workforce at the American Can Company and eventually moved on to the Maryland Association of CPAs, where she retired as Executive Director. Following her retirement from the MACPA, she became the part-time bookkeeper of the Bel Air Recreation Committee where many lasting friendships were made.

Barbara’s faith was very important to her beginning at a young age. During her adult life, Barbara was always very active in her church, with her last affiliation being the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Bel Air. She held many leadership roles at the church including Church Council Chair and Finance Committee Chair.

In 2010, Barbara sold her Bel Air home and moved to the Oak Crest community in Parkville. She developed relationships with both residents and administration and went on to hold many leadership positions within the community, including being elected Resident Advisory Committee Chair and Resident Director of the Oak Crest Board of Directors. She eagerly learned and incorporated the latest technology in her daily life, and shared her knowledge with other residents, most notably co-founding and instructing the iPad Users Group. In 2015, Barbara was inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in recognition of her volunteer contributions to others. Only in the last few years did Barbara’s life slow down.

Barbara is the devoted mother of Donna Singer and her husband Robert and Suzanne Cathell and her husband Michael Ruth. She is the loving grandmother of Robert Singer and his wife Amy, Kristen Guaraldo and her husband Andrew, Jamie Cathell and her husband Martin Ahlgren, Allison Scherer and her husband Gregory, Kathryn Williamson and her husband Kirk, and Alexandra Brusewitz and her husband Joel. Barbara was fortunate enough to have eight great-grandchildren and was the beloved GG-Mom to: Sadie and Vera Guaraldo, Karoline and Anders Ahlgren, Charlie and Gunnar Scherer, and Preston and Wesley Brusewitz. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved son-in-law, Charles Cathell.

A Memorial Service for Barbara will be held at the Oak Crest Chapel on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 10 a.m. An informal reception will follow in the Garden Terrace Room from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:

Oak Crest Resident Care Fund (www.oakcrestresidentcarefund.org)

Oak Crest Philanthropy

8820 Walther Blvd.

Parkville, MD 21234