Mary Ellen Seymour

Mary Ellen Seymour, age 89, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at her home on the river. She was surrounded by her loving family who will remember her as a caring, selfless, and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and Gigi.

Mary Ellen was born in Ogdensburg, NY on June 15, 1936 to the late Nelson and Mary (Graveline) LaRose. As the baby of the family, she admired her siblings – Francis (Ann) LaRose, Henry (Muriel) LaRose, Elizabeth Spoon, Richard (Eleanor) LaRose, Isabelle (John) Andrews, Ola (Lloyd) King, Florence Tosh, and Jane (Allen) Rishe. She was also blessed with stepsiblings - Marie Craven, Elaine Craig, and Jim Rishe.

She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1954. After that, she was employed at the New York Telephone Company until she started a family. While her family grew, she enjoyed making and decorating cakes for special celebrations – proudly creating wedding cakes for seven of her children. As her children got older, she worked for Kinney Drugs and The Medicine Shoppe as a Pharmacy Technician.

Mary Ellen married William Seymour on June 9, 1956 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Over the course of their decades-long marriage, Mary Ellen and Bill built a loving home with their eight children – Linda (Kelley) Geary, Patricia (Jeffrey) Bouchard, Joann (Michael) Marshall, William (Elaine) Seymour, Gary (Cheryl) Seymour, Thomas Seymour (deceased), Diane (Matthew) Mitchell, and Julie (John) Rhodes. Mary Ellen and Bill’s marriage was strong, enduring, and true. They shared life’s happiest and hardest moments as a team, with unwavering dedication to each other.

Mary Ellen was blessed with 16 grandchildren – Megan, Kelsey, Ryan, Lauren, Sarah, Josh, Krista, Erin, Hannah, Shannon, Bryan, Micaela, Natalie, Thomas, Jennifer, and Kyle, 34 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was a consistent presence in each of their lives – in the stands at sporting events, cooking holiday meals, and spoiling them with an ice cream cone or cookies. Generations to come will be attempting, and failing, to replicate her banana bread (frequently stolen from the freezer), jaw breakers, and breakfast fritters.

In her later years, Mary Ellen took pride in caring for her riverfront property and enjoyed spending time in Florida. She also was known for playing cards and cheering on Syracuse sports. She could frequently be found with her doting dog, Coco, at her heels; her companion through her final moments.

Family and friends are relieved to know that Mary Ellen joins her husband, William, son, Thomas, parents, deceased siblings, and great-granddaughter, Tyler, in watching over all of us.

For those who wish to pay their respects, calling hours will be held at Fox & Murray Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 between 2 PM and 8 PM. Services will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 10 AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Donations can be made in Mary Ellen’s memory to the Ogdensburg Boys’ and Girls’ Club.