Arlene Seely (born Smith)
Personal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: April 26, 1927
Date of Death: March 26, 2017
Death Place: Southampton, MA
Arlene Seely (1927 – 2017)
SOUTHAMPTON – Arlene Seely, 89, of High Street, Southampton, died peacefully Sunday, March 26, 2017.
She was born April 26, 1927, the daughter of Earl and Hazel (Gould) Smith. She grew up in Florence, attended Northampton schools, and earned her bachelor’s degree in music from Smith College in 1948. Nov. 27, 1948, she married Roy Seely, and they shared 60 wonderful years together.
Arlene was an amazing woman whose love for her family and friends was the biggest passion in her life. She taught second grade in Southampton for 25 years, making a positive impact on hundreds of students who remembered Mrs. Seely long after she could remember their names. She was very active in the Southampton Congregational Church, singing in the choir along with her husband Roy for many, many years. She and Roy also took part in other singing groups, including the Greater Westfield Choral Association, which toured and performed in Europe twice.
Arlene took pride in helping at the Southampton Senior Center, running an osteoporosis exercise class, and planning senior trips. She was an artist, decorative painter, seamstress, quilter, and gardener. She was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren, and attended birthday parties, plays, recitals, graduations, and other family events as often as she could. Recently she had moved to The Village at Cedar Hill in Windsor, Vermont.
Arlene is survived by her daughters Janet Johnston of Canaan, New Hampshire, Caryl McPherson and her husband Dan of Charlestown, New Hampshire, and her son Richard Seely and his wife Ann of Greenfield. She also leaves nine beloved grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as her brother-in-law Roger Bouvier from Auburn, Maine. She was predeceased by her husband Roy, her brother Elmer Smith, and her sister-in-law Eva Bouvier.
A memorial service to celebrate Arlene’s life is scheduled for April 23, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Southampton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Music Fund at her church, First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 145, Southampton, MA 01073.
Published in Daily Hampshire Gazette on March 30, 2017
[Wife of great-grandson SGS # 3242 – Roy F.; William Alfred; George Thomas; Linus (# 3242); Linus (#1428); Seth; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah; Obadiah]
