Margaret Seavey

With her strong Irish Catholic faith as her guide, Margaret built her life around hard work, family and her faith in the Lord. She lived, loved and treasured every blessed day with her loved ones, knowing that nothing was more important than the love of family. A natural source of love, comfort and hope, Margaret’s kind words and caring faith meant so much to so many.

With the end of the Great War, the year 1919 marked a time of change in American history, as young servicemen returned home from Europe to start their families amidst a booming post-war economy. It was the beginning of an era of prosperity and happiness, but Edward Sullivan and his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Hooley), of Grand Island, Nebraska were in positive spirits for another reason. On July 9, 1919, they were blessed with the birth of their beautiful daughter, Margaret.

Margaret was born in the town of Grand Island and spent her growing up years in the agriculturally rich town of Osh Kosh in central Nebraska. Her father was a farmer and later businessman, while her mother cared for Margaret and her six siblings. Margaret received her education in the area schools; however, she only attended Garden County High for a short time before being sent to a Catholic girls’ boarding school in Grand Island. After graduating, Margaret moved out west to Denver, Colorado, where she found work in a factory during the war.

It was in Denver that Margaret met the love of her life, Joseph Seavey. At the time, Joe was serving in the U.S. Air Force and was in Denver doing some training when he and Margaret met at a dance. They had a whirlwind courtship and were happily married on September 24, 1944, the day before he shipped out for Southeast Asia. Fittingly, their wedding song was “I’ll Be Seeing You” from the popular Broadway musical Right This Way.

While Joe was off to war, Margaret moved to New York to live with his family. Once safely home again, Joe began taking classes at Ithaca College, and he and Margaret started their family with the birth of their first child, son Thomas. After some time, the family of three moved to Middleville, New York, where they welcomed their second child, son Joseph. They were soon on the move again, this time back to Denver, where Joe got a job in the Parks and Recreation Department. While here, the couple expanded their family with the births of two more children. After some time, Joe, Margaret and their four children moved to Muskegon, Michigan for another job, and the arrival of another bundle of joy for their family, daughter Jean. After another move to East Detroit, along came two more children, John and Erin. Joe took a job with the city, passionately working for under privileged youth in recreational services, of which Margaret supported whole heartedly and loved him all the more for his compassion for inner city children. Joe then took a job with the State of Michigan, and the family put down roots in the charming small town of St. Johns this rounded out their household with 5 boys and 2 girls.

No matter where they lived, Margaret always made it feel like home. She ran a smooth household, and was an immaculate housekeeper. Everything had its place, and she made sure it was in perfect order. Her family also had the proper place as first in her heart. Margaret exemplified all the wonderful things a mother should be. She was patient, caring and generous with her time, never thinking twice about going out of her way to help someone who needed her. She taught her children good values that would guide them through life, but most especially how to show kindness along the way. By example, Margaret always fought for the underdog, and was compassionate to those less fortunate. She often reminded her neighbors of Rose Kennedy, the way she was so neatly dressed and always in a white blouse. Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Margaret worked for about 15 years as a clerk at JCPenney.

Margaret loved her family dearly, and together she and Joe shared many great years of marriage. They traveled together with their children around the world, and were faithful members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Margaret’s devout Irish Catholic faith upheld her throughout her life, and brought her great comfort and strength after losing her beloved husband Joe. She prayed fervently on her rosary, and it brought her great comfort to pray daily for her family and friends.

Margaret’s good spirit and smiling face served as a testimony to the fact that she enjoyed every moment of her life. She had a great, yet dry sense of humor, and always looked at the glass half full, not half empty. Margaret was very strong in her ideals and beliefs, especially when it came to her faith and being a Democrat. For 20 years, she did her part as a loyal Democrat and proud American, working the elections. Her deepest allegiance, however, was always for her family. A doting grandmother, she poured the same amount of love into her relationships with her grandchildren and great grandchildren as she did with her own children. They will dearly miss coming home to her smiling face.

Margaret Seavey, age 91, of St. Johns, MI died on Wednesday, November 3, 2010. She is survived by her sons, Thomas (Suzie), Joe (Eleanor), Stan (Janette) and Leo (Kathie) Seavey; her daughters, Jeannie Simon and Erin (Jeff) Penney; 21 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; and her brother, Tom (Shirley) Sullivan. Along with her husband, Joe, Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and son, John Seavey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns with the Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy presiding. Internment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, November 5, at Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns. A rosary will be prayed at 3 p.m. and a scripture service will be held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of contributions to St. Vincent de Paul. Please visit Margaret’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/63569, where you may share a memory with her family or sign her online guest book.