Winifred A. Seeley

Winifred was born on May 2, 1927, in Manchester, England, the daughter of John James and Angela (Geoghan) Delaney.

Winifred attended Convent School and later St. Joseph’s Central School and graduated with honors. When she was 11, her family and neighborhoods were threatened by nightly bombing from air drops during World War II and had to hide down in Anderson Shelters buried in the ground.

After graduating at 16 years old, Winifred worked in an office at British Engine Boiler and Electric Co. When she was 29 she made a trip to America to visit three of her uncles and decided she would like to stay and become an American citizen.

Winifred became a ballroom dance instructor at Arthur Murray School of Dance in Erie, PA where she met the love of her life Fred E. Seeley. They were married on September 28, 1957, in North East, PA and married for 55 years before Fred passed away.

Winifred and Fred started a business Chick a Dee Ranch where she helped him raise 5,500 laying hens and learned how to gather and candle the eggs four times a day and deliver the eggs daily. They also farmed 18 acres of concord grapes and harvested them for Welch’s. They raised appaloosa horses. They owned Seeley’s Liquor Store for many years. She also worked in the offices of Westfield Memorial Hospital and a local Westfield physician Dr. Robert Storms until she retired. Winifred was a member of Zonta during the time she worked in the office.

Winifred had many hobbies and kept very active throughout her life and met many lifelong friends. She loved ballroom dancing, bowling, golfing, flying, camping with Coachman’s Club, sewing, knitting, crocheting, jewelry making and attended craft shows all over Chautauqua County for many years.

After retirement, she became an aerobics instructor at YWCA in Westfield. She worked at the Ripley Library and then worked for Chautauqua County Office for the Aging and traveled to many nursing homes and brought her aerobics to the residents in the nursing homes.

She loved to spend time with her family and she made an effort to be kind to everyone and to enjoy the moment. Everyone enjoyed her English phrases and dances.

She is survived by daughters: Monica (Ronald) Mazany of Palm Coast, FL and Garland (Charles) McFarland of New Castle, KY; son, Zande (Gaby) Seeley of Orlando, FL; granddaughter Marisa (Jacob) Colwell and great granddaughters Harlee and Liliana Colwell of Palm Coast, FL; grandson Ronson (Stefanie) Mazany and great granddaughters Scarlett and Sienna Mazany of Moon Township, PA; granddaughter Susannah (David Jones) Leonardi, great grandsons Caleb and Sam Schade, great granddaughter Autumn Schade all of Bozeman, MT; grandson Jason (Bethany) Leonardi of Dallas, TX; grandson Justin (Renee) Leonardi of Dallas, TX; granddaughter Tammy (David) Bragg, great grandson Collin Bragg of Newman, GA; grandson Charles McFarland and great grandson Miles McFarland of Dallas, TX; granddaughter Helena Sommers and great grandson Mason Sommers of Fredericksburg, TX and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred E. Seeley, Her parents, and an infant brother. At the request of the deceased, services were private. Interment was in the Quincy Cemetery, Ripley, NY. Memorials in Winifred memory may be made to YWCA of Westfield. Arrangements are by the Mason Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St. Westfield, NY. Please share condolences at www.masonfuneral.com.