Mary Joan Babcock (born Seeley)
Personal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: October 2, 1931
Date of Death: November 15, 2017
Birth Place: Brighton, OH
Death Place: Ashland, OH
Mary Joan (Jo) Seeley Babcock
Mary Joan (Jo) Seeley Babcock died Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 2017, at Brethren Care in Ashland, Ohio, surrounded by family.
She was born Oct. 2, 1930, to Mildred (McConnell) and Charles Seeley on the family dairy farm in Brighton, Ohio. Jo graduated from Brighton High School in 1948 and the M.B. Johnson School of Nursing in 1951. She practiced as a registered nurse in Elyria and Oberlin, Ohio; Ames, Iowa; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Wellington, Ohio; and retired from Medina General Hospital, Medina, Ohiol, in 1995. Jo married her high school sweetheart, Jarvis Babcock, Aug. 8, 1953, and together they raised four children, Jane (Andy) Toro, Stephen (Becky), Michael (Rachel), and Sarah (Frank) McManus.
Jo was a wonderful mother and wife who saw only the positive; she had encouraging words for everyone and was generous to all family, friends, and neighbors.
In addition to being an outstanding nurse, Jo also had many interests including baking, canning, gardening, hiking, birdwatching, sewing, needlework, knitting, spinning, and genealogy. Jo was an early proponent of healthy eating, exercise, composting, and recycling.
She was involved in community organizations including Ann Arbor League of Women Voters, the New London Library Board, the Rochester Historical Society, and Rochester election polling.
Jo was predeceased by her husband, Jarvis, in 2012 as well as her parents; siblings Jean (Tom) Gaylord and David Seeley; and brother-in-law Harvey Funk. She is survived by her children and their spouses; grandchildren Kate (Ben) Jullien, Tom (Marissa) Toro, Linden (Zac) Coe, Orrin Babcock, Ezra Babcock, Clara Babcock, Liam McManus, Molly McManus, Clare McManus; and great-grandchildren Oliver Jullien, Emily Jullien, Elijah Wolf Toro, Henry Coe, Brezlyn Coe, and Zariah Coe. Jo is also survived by her siblings, Marge Funk, Jim (Vivian) Seeley, Lawrence (LaVerne) Seeley; and sister-in-law Sherry Seeley. Jo is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Weezie (Bill) Bradley and Catherine (Curt) Leary as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Services were held Monday, Nov. 20 at Brighton United Methodist Church. Burial was at Rochester cemetery.
The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care Jo received at the Brethren Care Facility’s Bradford House #3 during her last years in the long journey of living with dementia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brethren Care Village, c/o Bradford Houses, 2000 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805; or the Rochester Historical Society, c/o Andy Kurpely, 114 Griggs Rd., Rochester, OH 44090.
Published in The Oberlin News Tribune from November 22 to November 23, 2017
[Great-great-granddaughter of SGS # 3439 – Mary Joan; Charles Dwight; Dwight Finley; Humphrey Smith; Cornelius (#3439); Daniel # 1554; David; Charles; Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]
