Tributes

Sherry Matthews Beebe October 11, 1936 – October 15, 2025 Narberth, Pennsylvania Sherry Matthews Beebe, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and devoted musician, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, at Saunders House in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. She was 89 years old. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 11, 1936, Sherry was the daughter of Francis B. and Edna W. Matthews. A lifelong lover of music and a woman of steadfast faith, she graduated from Western Hills High School and earned her degrees in piano, voice, and organ from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Sherry began her career teaching in the Cincinnati Public Schools before moving to the Main Line, where she joined the Lower Merion School District. For 35 years, she inspired generations of students as a music teacher at Penn Wynne Elementary School, sharing her joy, discipline, and creativity with everyone she taught. Her love of music extended far beyond the classroom. For 35 years, Sherry served as Minister of Music at Narberth Presbyterian Church, where she directed the adult, children’s, and bell choirs and faithfully played both the organ and piano. Under her leadership, the adult choir traveled abroad to Vienna, Austria, and Prague for an international music exchange — a highlight of her ministry and a testament to her dedication to bringing people together through music and faith. In addition to her teaching and church work, Sherry was an accomplished performer. She sang with the renowned Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and performed alongside the Philadelphia Orchestra — experiences that reflected both her exceptional musicianship and her lifelong commitment to the choral arts. A proud member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and the International Music Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota, Sherry embodied professionalism, artistry, and service in every role she held. Guided by her deep beliefs, she viewed every note she played and every voice she nurtured as an act of praise. Her music was both her ministry and her joy. Sherry was predeceased by her parents, Edna and Francis Matthews. She is survived by her loving husband, Philip C. Beebe Jr.; daughters, Alicia Beebe and Phyllis Beebe-Steigerwalt; brother, Francis Todd Matthews, and sister-in-law, Sondra J. Matthews; nephews, Steven and David Matthews; five grandchildren, Joshua and Kristen Low, Amanda, Aaron and Devon Steigerwalt; plus four great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Narberth Presbyterian Church. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sherry’s memory to the music ministry of Narberth Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice. Her music, her faith, and her love will continue to echo in the hearts of all who knew her — a lasting testimony to a life guided by God and filled with song.

Tributes

Sherry Matthews Beebe

October 11, 1936 - October 15, 2025