Helen Agnes Gorman

Helen A. Gorman, age 96, of Taneytown, passed away in her sleep on Easter Sunday March 31, 2024 at Lorien, Taneytown, where she had been a resident for nearly 3 years.

Born July 29, 1927 in Baltimore to Taneytown parents Charles Robert and Mary Angela Dilley Arnold, Helen was the eldest of 5 children. She was the widow of the late Joseph C. Gorman, who died August 29, 1994, and to whom she was married for 39 years.

Helen was a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s Church, Taneytown, where she volunteered as church organist on the 1804 tracker-action G. P. England organ for 68 years, taking over the job from her Uncle. She was taught specifically to play that organ by the late Hazel Hess. She taught the 7th & 8th graders from St. Joseph’s School to sing the Latin Mass, and they often were her choir for the Requiem Mass for funerals. Her toddler daughter came along and learned to sing the Latin as well.

After completing 8th grade at St. Joseph Parochial School in Taneytown, she attended St. Joseph Boarding School for Girls on the campus of St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Md, and was in the last class of boarding students, graduating in 1945. From there, Helen headed off to the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore, where she majored in music, specifically piano, taking those classes at Peabody Conservatory of Music. After graduation from Notre Dame in 1949, she began her teaching career with Carroll County Public Schools, first as a music teacher in Hampstead and then as an elementary school teacher at East End Elementary in Westminster.

Helen and Joe were married on August 6, 1955 at St. Joseph’s Church, Taneytown. Two years later, their daughter and only child, “Meg” was born. Helen stayed home until Meg was kindergarten age. While she was home with Meg, she obtained a Masters Degree in Library Science from then Western MD College in Westminster. In the fall of 1962, she began her career as a librarian (later a “Media Specialist”) at William Winchester Elementary in Westminster, retiring in 1992.

History was always another of Helen’s great passions. Helen served on the Board of the Historical Society of Carroll County and was their library chair for many years. She volunteered often at the Historical Society Library, until she was no longer able to drive. Helen did extensive research on our family, St. Joseph’s Church, and Taneytown history. She didn’t use a computer, but did all her research and note-taking by hand. When St. Joseph’s Church celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 1997, she had several columns in the weekly bulletins covering some aspect of church history. Parishioners would come up to her and say, “I can’t wait to see what happens next week!” She found an account of what is contained in the church’s cornerstone, including a program from the dedication Mass held there, where Professor Henry Dielman from Mt. St. Mary’s College presided at our organ. We had been singing one of his pieces for years, “With Glory Lit the Midnight Air”, which made a comeback at Midnight Masses when we found out he had once played our organ.

Helen was an original member of the Taneytown Heritage Committee, and later the Taneytown Heritage and Museum Association (Taneytown History Museum). She was also the last surviving member of Taneytown’s “Monday Night Bridge Club.” She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 120, and a former member of the Jr. Women’s Club and the Women’s Club of Westminster. In 1989, Helen was awarded an Archdiocesan Medal of Honor for her service to St. Joseph Parish.

Surviving are her daughter, Marguerite (“Meg”) Gorman Herring, her son-in-law, D. Edward Herring, her grandson, Michael E. Herring, her granddaughter, Katie E. Shannahan and her husband, Ryan, and their son, Helen’s great-grandson, Felix I. Shannahan. Helen is also survived by one brother, Joseph A. Arnold and his wife, Nola of Salisbury. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews on both the Arnold and Gorman sides. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her brother George B. Arnold & his wife Elizabeth, her sister Julia T. Rosenwald and her husband Jack, and her sister Mary Ann Cobb and her husband, Dr. Everett N. Cobb.

Family will receive friends on Monday April 15th, 2024 at MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 136 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A celebration of her life and her music will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday April 16th at St. Joseph’s Church, 44 Frederick St., Taneytown, MD, with a prelude of her favorite music, a eulogy, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to: St. Joseph’s Church, (Designate “Organ Upkeep” on memo line), 44 Frederick St., Taneytown, MD 21787, or to Taneytown Heritage and Museum Association, 340 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD, 21787, or to the Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main St., Westminster, MD 21157. Arrangements by Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, P.A. Online condolences maybe made to www.myersdurborawfh.com.