ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Priscilla Seewald may be gone but she’s left behind the positive impact she made on not only her community but also the people in it.
Seewald passed away on July 22 and was honored with a memorial service Aug. 8 at Roser Memorial Community Church where she was a long-time member. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the service was limited to 50 people with priority given to Seewald’s family, however, they did give permission to the church to live stream the service on the Roser YouTube channel for all of her friends and family who couldn’t be present.
A Holmes Beach resident for many years, Seewald leaves behind her husband, Bruce, daughter, Lisa Turner, and son-in-law, Wayne Turner, along with two grandchildren, Rutger and Angelica Hope Turner, as well as a sister, Judith Stermer and her family. Seewald also leaves behind a legacy of many years of service on Anna Maria Island.
Many Island residents will know Seewald from her volunteerism. She could be found helping stamp booklets at the entrance of homes on The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Tour of Homes, ringing bells during the holidays to help raise money for the Salvation Army and serving as a volunteer at Anna Maria Elementary School.
Seewald also was a former president for and award-winning lifetime member of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club. When not volunteering elsewhere, her friend Beth Bernet recalled Seewald delivering flowers to friends, neighbors, church members who were homebound and others that were on her mind.
Bernet said she recently received a message from Seewald offering to deliver flowers to her, not because of an illness but because she said she wanted to give them to someone that wouldn’t ordinarily receive flowers.
At Roser, Seewald was an active member, deacon, mission committee member, music committee member, Sunday school teacher, Roser Women’s Guild member, food pantry volunteer, thrift shop volunteer and a favorite teacher of the children at Roser’s annual Vacation Bible School.
“I got to take pictures at Vacation Bible School as co-director. I got to run around to all the stations, and I loved going to Priscilla’s station because you could hear a pin drop,” Bernet said in a July 26 tribute to Seewald during Roser’s church service. “She commanded attention as she taught those children those Bible stories. And she also always got to be the one to give out M&Ms to the children, so it was a favorite station and not only because of Priscilla. All of those little hands stretched out waiting for those M&Ms, it was just, I’ll always think of Priscilla when I eat M&Ms.”
Seewald also worked with All Island Denominations and the Roser Food Pantry to ensure that the less fortunate children attending Anna Maria Elementary School would have enough food over summer break.
“Priscilla is an example of how we want to be a saint,” Bernet said.
“Priscilla Seewald was a very special Christian friend to many of us who are a part of Roser Church and the Guild,” friend Peggy Nash said. “We will always remember her friendly smile, laugh and willingness to help many of us. She was fun to be with. Priscilla was always happy to help and will be greatly missed by many of us.”
“Heaven gained a great new angel and we lost a great lady,” Peggy Anthony said of Seewald.
In addition to remembrances by her friends, Nancian Hall wrote several poems dedicated to Seewald, all of which can be viewed online. In lieu of flowers, Seewald’s family asks that memorial donations be made in her honor to the Roser Food Pantry.
