Mary F. Seward

COLONIE-Mary Ellen Francis (Porter) Seward, 75, passed away peacefully into eternal life on August 1, 2017.

Mary Ellen was born in Albany on May 28, 1942 and was the beloved daughter of the late Harold and Celia (Lindheimer) Porter.

Mary Ellen graduated from St. John's Academy, class of 1960. Upon completing high school, God called her to enter the convent. She was welcomed into The Sisters of Mercy Convent in Albany and started her transition to the religious life. Before her perpetual profession, or final vows, as a Sister of Mercy, her father passed away and Mary Ellen had made the difficult decision to leave the convent and live with her mother.

She was employed at Niagara Mohawk Power Company from 1964 to 1970. It is there that she met Lawrence and soon after was married.
Mary Ellen wanted to work in the medical field. She enrolled in the Westchester School for medical assisting. She then obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing at Maria College, class of 1981.

Mary Ellen is a retired St. Peter's Hospital nurse of 23 years where she worked on the coronary care unit providing excellent cardiac care to all of her patients. Unfortunately, Mary Ellen had to retire early due to the early onset of Alzheimer's dementia.

Although Mary Ellen was extremely dedicated to her patients and loved nursing, she loved her family, was very proud of her children, and loved her granddaughter, Grace, very much. Mary Ellen is survived by her beloved and devoted husband, Lawrence Seward, Sr.; adoring daughter, Jacquelyn Ruane (Seward) Hassfurter and son-in-law, John J. Hassfurter III of Hagaman, NY; loving son, Lt. Col. (retired) Lawrence Mark Seward, daughter-in-law, Ulrike (Wippich) Seward, and granddaughter, Grace Alexandria Seward of Lansing, Kansas; sister, Joan (Porter) Cosico and brother-in-law, Lino Cosico of Sun Valley, California.

The family would like to thank Mary Ellen's primary physicians at the Center for Disabilities, Dr. Maria Kansas-Divine, Dr. Theodore Zeltner, and Gaye McCafferty, NP. Thank you to Dr. Jorge Cerda and staff at DCI Dialysis Center. Thank you for the kindness and your wonderful care you showed Mary Ellen. Thank you to Dr. Gary Bakst of the Albany Endocrine Group and Dr. Daniel Esper of the Albany Capital Cardiology Group. Mary Ellen's family extends an immense gratitude to the caring nurses and staff to Community Hospice – Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital.

Mary Ellen's husband, Lawrence, would like to especially thank his sister Pat Chiplock and his daughter Jacquelyn Ruane Hassfurter for the help and support during Mary Ellen's last days.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;?
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,?
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled; as to console;
to be understood as to understand;?to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;?It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,?
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Calling hours will be held at New Comer Funerals & Cremations, 343 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205, on Thursday, August 3, 2017 from 9:00am-11:00am with a funeral service to immediately follow. Burial will be held at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, NY.