Sophia Seely

SOPHIA SEELY

Sophia Seely, 48, of Elmira, N.Y., died Monday, Nov. 6, 1995, at home.

Surviving among others are a son, Gary Seely, Jr., of Mansfield.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Arrangements were made by the Olthof Funeral Home, Elmira.

Published in the Wellsboro Gazette, November 8, 1995 page 9

Beloved wife enjoyed gardening

For 30 years Gary Seely and his wife, Sophia, shared heartaches and all the joy and pleasure of raising children and being a family.

The sight of his wife weeding the flower garden, reading a good mystery or simply walking through the house was second nature, like breathing. It was so natural and now it’s hard to believe she’s no longer here, Gary Seely said as he struggled to put into words the love he shared with his wife.

“The difference is shocking, I was reflecting the other day on how much things have changed in 48 hours,” he said Wednesday.

Sophia Seely, 48, of Elmira, died Monday, Nov. 6, 1995, of illness.

Mrs. Seely was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents at age 2. Gary Seely met her in 1964.

It was a chance encounter, he said.

“I had stopped in her neighborhood, and I really am not sure why I was there,” the husband said.

“I think I stopped and asked her for directions. Shortly afterward, I stopped by her house and asked her if she wanted to go out,” he said.

They married about 18 months later.

They had enjoyed gardening together. Mrs. Seely preferred growing flowers and took pride in beautifying the yard, while her husband raised vegetables. They also had enjoyed boating.

Often, when their sons were younger, they would go up to Keuka Lake and sail in their 16-foot boat.

Those were some of their happiest memories, Gary Seely said.

“Usually we’d go up in the morning and take sandwiches and drinks and spend the whole day there,” he said.

Mrs. Seely had worked at various senior citizen homes before choosing to become a full-time home-maker shortly after her second son was born in 1985.

“She was very attached to her children. An exceptional mother,” Gary Seely said.

And an exceptional wife, he said.

“Just like any other couple we had our ups and downs, but we had a commitment,” he said.

Mrs. Seely also is survived by sons, Gary Seely Jr., of Mansfield, Brian Seely at home and Paul Seely of Annapolis, Md.; parents, Alojzy and Mary Lomozik of Elmira Heights; sisters, Lucy Harr of Cayuta and Mary Shutt of Elmira, and brother, John Lomozik of Ttampa Bay, Fla.

Services planned

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today at St. Casimir’s Church, Elmira.

Published in the Star-Gazette.