Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

St. Anne's Church

Corby Zeren, 83, of Annapolis, died on Friday, May 22, at her residence following the aftereffects of a stroke. She was born in 1943 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard to James McHenry Corbin, a Naval radio/radar officer cruising on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean in World War II, and Ann Lewis Corbin. After spending her youth in Long Island and New Jersey, Corby headed south in 1961 to attend Duke University. During her college years she discovered a profession – nursing – and the Episcopal Church, to which she would devote a large portion of her later life. In college, she served on the Altar Guild at Duke’s Episcopal Student Center and prepared for confirmation with the serving chaplain. She was confirmed by the Bishop of Newark during her senior year in college. Also in that year she met her future husband, John Zeren. 

After being married and living for a short time in Wisconsin, John was sent by his company to the Baltimore area. While there, Corby was active first in the Church of the Nativity in Timonium and then at Christ’s Church Baltimore. She began her nursing career as a surgical nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Towson and, when she and John relocated to Annapolis in 1979, she moved to the OR at Anne Arundel General Hospital in 1980. When she and John joined St. Anne’s in Annapolis after their Baltimore parish closed, she began to feel a call to ordained ministry. As part of her exploration of this call, she completed a Master’s degree in Theology at St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute. However, the call itself was a few years ahead. She was active at St. Anne’s in many ministry areas, including service on the Vestry, with liturgy, as a lector and in the choir, just to name a few. 

After a brief break in 2000 to explore the sailing life, Corby returned to her work as a nurse at Anne Arundel Medical Center, where she was known for running a very organized and well-run surgery. During those years, she was invited by St. Anne’s rector at the time to again explore ordained ministry and was accepted for postulancy by the Diocese of Maryland in April 2014. She was ordained a Vocational Deacon in 2017. She served at St. Andrew’s in Pasadena, St. Philip’s Church in Annapolis and again at St. Anne’s after retiring. 

Corby’s other great love was music. She was a long-time member of the St. Anne’s choir and, as a member for many years of the Annapolis Chorale (now part of Live Arts Maryland) she sang the classics and had small roles in several Broadway shows. She expanded her repertoire when she sang with Live Arts’ women’s ensemble Cantori, singing pop standards as well as classical pieces. Music wasn’t just an enjoyable hobby for Corby, it was a way of “praying twice,” as the saying goes. 

Whether assisting at the church’s altar, proclaiming the Gospel, or caring for those entrusted to her, Corby carried herself with both pastoral gentleness and remarkable competence.

Corby is survived by her brother, Kim Corbin of North Carolina, as well as many dear friends and colleagues.  

Friends are invited to celebrate Corby's life on Tuesday, July 21 at 6 pm at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, on Church Circle in Annapolis, MD 21401. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis (<a href="https://www.stannes-annapolis.org/donate">online here</a>) or Live Arts Maryland in Annapolis (<a href="https://liveartsmaryland.app.neoncrm.com/forms/annual-giving">online here</a>).

Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.

Corby Zeren

Corby Zeren

Corby Zeren Services

Funeral Service