Rose Marie Seelye

Publication

Rose (Azhe-kwe Ikwe “Coming Back Woman") Marie (Kornezos) Seelye, 79

Rose (Azhe-kwe Ikwe “Coming Back Woman") Marie (Kornezos) Seelye, 79, of Bena, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, while recuperating at the Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bena Community Center. Visitation will begin after 4 p.m. Thursday and continue until the time of services at the Bena Community Center. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Bena.

Carroll Funeral Home in Deer River assisted the family with arrangements.

The pallbearers will be Rocky Tibbetts Jr., Jesse Tibbetts, Tony Tibbetts, Mike Kornezos, Davey Seelye and Lanny Seelye.

The honorary pallbearers will be Shannessy Chubb, Justin Seelye, Sam Cleveland, Nate Seelye, Josh Seelye, Tony Treuer, Micah Treuer, David Treuer and Rocky Tibbetts Sr.

She was born Nov. 19, 1929, to John Constantine Kornezos and Caroline LaPrairie Caldwell in Knife Falls on the Fond du Lac Reservation. She has one sister. She attended “Sister School” in White Earth. She married Jack Harold Seelye July 7, 1949, in Milwaukee, Wis. They lived in Englewood, Colo., and Minneapolis before moving to Bena where they made their permanent home. She enjoyed going to the casino, making moccasins, doing beadwork, crocheting dolls and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a master at the sewing machine and made many quilts.

She is survived by her husband of Bena; daughters, Jackie (Rocky) Tibbetts and Bonita Seelye; sons, Larry Seelye and Scott Seelye; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Stella Kornezos Benjamin; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her step-father, John Moose.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Beltrami Humane Society in Bemidji.

Published in The Bemidji Pioneer, December 2, 2008