Helen J. Seely, 84, a resident of Wesbury Nursing Home in Meadville, passed away at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Wesbury. Born in Meadville on Nov. 18, 1924, she was a daughter of Leon Cotterman and Hazel Thompson. On Aug. 7, 1943, she was married to Daniel E. (Jay) Seely Jr. Helen was a member of Canal Wesleyan Methodist Church. She was employed as a meat wrapper for Quaker Food Market and she was also a cafeteria worker for Valley Grove School District. She enjoyed crocheting. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved children and taught Sunday school for more than 30 years. Helen is survived by three children, Daniel Wayne Seely and his wife, Janice, of Meadville, Shirley Jean Richards and her husband, Edward, of Franklin, and Diane Elaine Seely of Salem, Ohio; four grandchildren, Julie Dombroski and her husband, John, of Pittsburgh, Randall Richards and his wife, Laura, of New Castle, Jason Daniel Seely and his wife, Cherilyn, of Meadville, and Kurtis Bradley Seely of Meadville; four great-grandchildren, Tyler Andrew Richards of Franklin, Austin Bradley Seely of Meadville, Kristen Nicole Seely of Meadville and Logan Drew Seely of Meadville; and two sisters, Martha Pritts and her husband, Elliott, of Hillsboro, W.Va., and Mary Lou Nageotte and her husband, Robert, of Saegertown. Helen was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, William Cotterman and Merle Cotterman; and a sister, Shirley Phelps. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Gardinier Funeral Home Inc., 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin, Pa. 16323. A memorial service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Canal Wesleyan Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. Domenick Pietro. There will also be visitation at the church on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Peters Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Stoneboro Wesleyan Methodist School, 947 Fredonia Road, Stoneboro, Pa. 16153; or to Franklin Public Library, 421 12th St., Franklin, Pa. 16323.
Published in The Meadville Tribune from March 21, 2009 – March 22, 2009
