Margaret Rose Seiter

Peg Seiter was born Margaret Rose Kelly on December 7, 1917, the only child of Julia Elizabeth (Flinn) Kelly and John Joseph Kelly in Milton, PA. Peg graduated from Seton Hill College in 1939 with a bachelors degree in music, and from Ithaca College with a degree in music education.

After World War II, Peg met Dennis William Seiter, a drama student at Ithaca College. They married three months later and lived in Trumansburg, NY for 15 years and had six daughters. In 1966 they moved the family to Culpeper, VA where Denny took a job as Industrial and Labor Relations Director for The Rochester Corporation. They lived in Culpeper for 42 years; Peg moved to an independent living apartment in Houston in 2006.

A talented opera singer and pianist, Peg sang in college and university productions and local community theater. She was also a vocal coach for high school musical productions, while her husband served as drama and accent coach. She was for many years the church choir director at St. James Catholic Church in Trumansburg, NY.

In Culpeper, Peg was active in the community. She was president of the Culpeper Women’s Club, was an usher at Precious Blood Catholic Church and an active member of the Altar Society, read to elementary school children, was active in community theater, and taught in the Culpeper County School system. She also helped distribute funds to local high school students through a scholarship in her husband’s name after his passing in 1987.

After moving to Texas at 88 years of age, she continued to be active. At her retirement community, Eagle’s Trace, she was a member in the Players’ Theater Group, a reading club, bible study, Interfaith Council, the Wine Club, the Nineties Club, and volunteered at the Treasure Chest, a resale shop. She attended St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Famously well-organized, Peg was known on special occasions to meet each family member with a stack of index cards listing the chores for which they were responsible to make the affair proceed seamlessly. Denny was often heard to remark, “Your mother could run General Motors if she wanted to.”

To those privileged to know her well, Peg was a straight shooter with a brilliant mind, a keen wit, an optimistic view of life, and great strength of character. Always dressed to the nines, she loved it when she was thought to be 10 years younger than her actual age. But she was most fondly remembered for the constant and loving relationship with her husband, Denny, obvious to all who knew them.

Peg had recently enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Houston with her five daughters to mark her 100th year of life. The reunion was marked by old stories, new memories, and an abundance of singing, laughter, good food, and wine.

Peg Seiter is survived by her five remaining daughters and sons-in-law: Kathryn Seiter DeWitt and Van DeWitt of Houston, TX; Margaret Seiter Vaughn and W. Judson Vaughn of Herndon, VA; Monica Seiter Golan and Steve Golan of Cincinnati, OH; Patricia Seiter Fitzpatrick and Robert Fitzpatrick of Holland, MI; Theresa Seiter Azie of Leesburg, VA; and Leon Bowens of Washington, DC; plus nine grandchildren: Margaret Rose Vaughn, William Marshall Vaughn, and Mary Hannah Vaughn; Olivia Golan; Erin Azie and Lauryn Azie; and Matthew Seidel, Christopher DeWitt, and Kelly DeWitt Norman and grandson-in-law Travis Norman. She is predeceased by her husband, Dennis William Seiter, and her eldest daughter, Julia Anne Seiter Bowens.

A wake will be held on Wednesday, April 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Clore-English Funeral Home at 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA. A funeral mass will be held at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Culpeper, VA on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., interment to follow at the burial ground at Little Fork Church in Rixeyville, VA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Eagle’s Trace Scholars Fund, 14703 Eagle Vista Drive, Houston, TX 77077, Attn: Finance; or Precious Blood Catholic Church.

Condolences may be given at clore-english.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA 22701.