Velma Carmody Sedlak

Today we celebrate the life of a wonderful woman who was just 4 months shy of 101 years of age. She had a great sense of humor, was very well read, intelligent, generous and loving She was a Mother, Mother-in-law, beloved Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin, and Friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents,older sister Verda Holveck and her infant granddaughter, Suzanne Elizabeth Shryack.

She is survived by:

Daughter: Barbara Shryack, Son: Bill Sedlak, Jr , Grandson Scott Shryack. Sisters: Ardella Untrauer, Barbara Hart, Isabelle Jones, Mary Lou Johnson, and many nieces, nephews & grand nieces & nephews.

Velma Carmody Sedlak, born June 11th, 1919, was the second daughter of six to Margaret Peddicord Carmody and Patrick J. Carmody. Growing up on a 160- acre farm in rural Iowa was difficult at that time as well as growing up during the depression. As a tomboy, Velma was more comfortable helping her Dad with the animals and farm chores rather than learning to crochet or quilt. She was also an early and avid reader, and on those long cold Iowa winters developed a desire to live near the sea. She was an excellent student and graduated from HS at age 15, the same year as her older sister. The two of them attended college for a time in Chillicothe. Unfortunately, her college savings were lost in the run on the banks during the depression, so she was unable to continue as she had hoped. Due to her love of history she had planned to become a teacher & would have been a great one. During her college days she met a young man who, as she stated was "handsome with a shy smile."

As an adventurous young woman, she moved to Chicago where she stayed with several girlfriends in an apartment and worked. The friends remained in contact up until the past 20 years or so. Her younger sisters still remember their glamorous older sister visiting from Chicago & bringing gifts!

After some time, the young man with the shy smile, Bill Sedlak Sr., convinced her to join him in Southern California, where he was relocating. From childhood on, she had always wanted to live near the sea, so she decided to relocate too and live with her aunt until January 1941 when she and Bill Sedlak Sr. married. She always mentioned what fun they had going out dancing after work.

Bill Sr. enlisted in the Navy due to WWll, and they moved to Ventura where as a Navy wife, she worked at a bank while her husband was deployed to Hawaii and until her daughter Barbara was born.

Following Bill Sr's return in 1945, they lived in a few places, ending up for several years in Glendale, California where her son Bill Jr. was born. She was active in helping with scouting activities and church. She always scrimped & saved to make sure her children had the opportunity to do things outside of school, like Barbara's horseback riding, ice skating lessons, and the cotillion dance classes both children attended, over the years. There was also Barbara's failure as a pianist after saying she wanted to play the piano & one was rented. Little did she realize that you had to practice--a lot, with a not very pleasant piano teacher.

Following Barbara's HS graduation, the family moved to Newport Beach in 1962. Velma was active in politics and other local volunteer activities; Bill Jr. went from local elementary school through high school with Velma's support on all fronts, helping him with Cub Scouts and learning to surf (dismal failure) and enrolling him in local sailing classes over the summers (to great success). Barbara went to Orange Coast College and then moved on to UCLA. Velma was determined that her children be good students and go to college, especially since her dreams of a college degree were cut short. As a result, Barbara graduated from UCLA and later Bill graduated from the University of California, Irvine. She was immensely pleased that both children had succeeded in college and had successful careers.

Once Bill was in high school, Velma was able to start working part time to keep active. After 32 years of marriage, she went through a very difficult divorce in 1973. Always a survivor, she moved into a condo and went back to school to brush up on her secretarial skills. She began working temporary jobs before eventually landing a steady secretarial job at Orange Coast College. Several years later she moved to the Mathematics Department at University of California, Irvine,where she was a secretary to the Department Chairman. She worked there eight years for three demanding math department chairmen and was promoted to an Administrative Assistant. Unfortunately, due to health issues she had to retire. While there she received high performance reviews for her skills and dedication. In her typical way, she never tooted her own horn, so her performance reviews were only discovered when her children were clearing out her condo.

When the condominiums where she was renting were being sold, she took a risk and bought her beloved condo where she would live for the next 38 years, She also took a leap of faith, using her new credit card and booked a tour to Europe. As luck would have it, she was sick as a dog the day before departure. Barbara recalls packing almost everything in Velma's closet (fortunately no 50# luggage limits in 1973) and off she went, stopping at a pharmacy in Germany for antibiotics! She continued to take short domestic trips

with her sister Verda, went on three cruises with her daughter and son-in-law, and remained in contact with all of her sisters by phone, and boy could those Carmody girls talk!

After Velma bought her condo, she began moving into the modern age with her first microwave oven! Fortunately, she never burned the condo down in spite of her periodic incineration of a pork chop or popcorn! She hated to disturb her children for help, but periodically she would call Bill for assistance with the garage door opener not working or furnace issues. When asked why she didn't call sooner, she would always say that we (Barbara and Bill) were so busy she didn't want to bother us with "minor things." That was just her independent nature.

The loss of her first grandchild, a baby girl, was very difficult for her. However, she was so excited over the birth of her grandson Scott a year later. She always took any opportunity to take care of Scott, and would regale the family with their trips to Mc Donald's, or in one case getting she and Scott to the airport for a flight, to meet Barbara & Tom in San Francisco for a cruise. Not a small feat, as she did not live in LA County. She and Scott developed a very special lifetime bond and she was always so proud & supportive of Scott & so worried during his military deployments.

In 2011, a week before Christmas, she had her first stroke, followed by pneumonia and then congestive heart failure. It was decided that she would be better off, at an assisted living facility at least while repairs were being made to her condo. The transition was very difficult for someone who had lived on her own for 40+ years in a large condo. At first, she hoped to return home and regain her independence. However, as her health problems mounted, she came to accept that was not in the cards. However, her independent streak and rebellion at rules she disagreed with, was alive and well during her assisted living stay.

Following additional health problems, it became necessary for Velma to move into a nursing home as her care needs exceeded what could be provided in assisted living. She spent the last 3+ years of life at a very nice nice nursing home, Walnut Village in Anaheim. Unfortunately her later years were marked by strokes, two broken hips and & the onset of vascular dementia.

Her great hugs & cheerful personality will be missed by all who knew her, along with her wonderful sense of humor, intellect & loving, generous spirit.

As much as we wish you were still with us Mom, we realize the recent years have been very difficult for you. May you rest in peace at your beautiful hilltop grave site with a view of the sea & sky.

Love you forever and until we meet again.

In lieu of flowers, an online or mail memorial donation in Velma's name and daughter's address, can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project @warriorproject.org or by phone at 855-448-3997