Birth date: Mar 20, 1933 Death date: Dec 21, 2017
Bethel Seals, 84, died with great peace and honor, surrounded by her family on Thursday, December 21, 2017 in Decatur, Illinois. She is survived by her younger sister Gennetie married to Herbert Blanford of Shelbyville, her daught Read Obituary
Lit a candle in memory of Bethel Seals
My grandmother, Bethel Seals, was a remarkable woman. In her time on this earth, she faced every type of adversity (financial, romantic, family issues, deaths, etc.) and yet she always overcame those challenges with grace and dignity. My earliest memories of my grandma take place in the kitchen of my childhood home, somewhere between the mid 90s and the early 2000â??s. My mom and grandma would sip coffee, smoke a cigarette or ten, and carry-on such long and detailed conversations that an objective observer might think they hadnâ??t spoken in years. In reality, grandma was over at our house at least three times a week.My grandma was a loving woman. She was kind and gentle. But her oftentimes soft demeanor masked a fiery spirit and an incredible will to live. She was tough beyond belief, working a physically demanding full-time job right up until 2005, when she suffered a debilitating stroke that robbed her of her ability to work. Even after that stroke she remained a permanent fixture in the lives of all her children and grandchildren. She could communicate very clearly in her own way and, true to her independent nature, was able to care for herself some of the time. Bethel Seals had a pioneer spirit and she consistently showed bravery and fortitude through her long and colorful life. Every single one of her children and grandchildren will miss her terribly. We will always hold a special place in our hearts for our courageous, compassionate, loving, Bethel Seals. Until we meet again.-Courtney Jean
