Joan M. Seamon

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Joan M. (Sullivan) Seamon, age 84, of US Highway 20 passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 16, 2023 in the Sitrin Residential Center, New Hartford, with her loving family by her side.

Joan was born July 1, 1939 in West Exeter, a daughter of the late John L. and Ada L. Laraby Sullivan. She was raised and educated in West Winfield. On February 16, 1957, she married Grant M. Seamon in the parsonage of the Richfield Springs Methodist Church, the start of a blessed union of sixty-five years. For many years Joan was an inspector for Andy's Dress Factory in West Winfield, The Tannery in West Winfield, and later Duofold in Ilion and Mohawk, retiring in 1984.

She loved gardening, cooking, and baking, especially when it came to making bread. She also loved drawing and painting, antiques, and helping others when they were in need. But most of all she loved her family, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed having her grandchildren visit all at once, especially for "Grandma's Sleep-Overs."

The best way to describe Joan was that she was a loving, caring, generous, family-oriented person. She will be remembered by many and will never be forgotten.

Surviving are her husband, Grant; three daughters, Deborah Bartlett and her husband David of Mohawk, Jodi Phillips and her husband Leslie (Bucky) of Ilion, and Tami Kucerak and her husband Michael of  Herkimer, a son in-law Larry Winslow of Richfield Springs; a sister, Carol Dowd of Ilion; fourteen grandchildren, Michael Winslow, Ella Winslow, Timothy Winslow, Joni LaBarge, Mark Couchman, Keith Phillips, Alex Upson, Codee Phillips, Savanna Webb, Justin Phillips, Lacey Shelor, Gabriella Freeland, Luke Phillips, and Jon Kucerak; sixteen great-grandchildren, Rachael Winslow, Megan Winslow, Kate Winslow, Rapheal Cooler, JJ LaBarge, Ethan LaBarge, Ryon Winslow, Gracey Winslow, Julia Phillips, Haelee Phillips, Lana Phillips, Weston Phillips, Barrett Phillips, Patrick Freeland, Caiden Webb, and Elliana Shelor; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her son, Mark Seamon; her daughter, Michele Winslow; her son-in-law, Scott Couchman; three brothers, John Sullivan Jr., James P. Sullivan, Ronald Sullivan; and four sisters, Loretta Saunders, Elizabeth Berberick, Helen Mahon, and Katherine Foster.

Calling hours for Mrs. Seamon will be on Friday, December 22 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Richfield Springs Bible Church, Church Street, Richfield Springs. A funeral will follow at 1:00 PM with Pastor Richard Unger to officiate. Burial will take place this spring in Twilight Rest Cemetery, Monticello. Funeral arrangements are with the J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs.

Expressions of sympathy may be made through donations in her memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital and the Smile Train. Envelopes will be available at the church.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the love and care shown to Joan while she was at the Sitrin Home.

-Our Matriarch -

The world's a little darker today.

The sun is still shining, but our hearts feel gray.

A light went out in the early morning of ten to two.

Our family's great loss, what are we supposed to do?

Grief and relief, sadness and joy.

Now at peace with her baby girl and boy.

The confusing storm of emotions break free.

And fall from the lashes of friends and family.

The essence of a doting grandmother.

You'd leave her presence feeling loved like no other.

She fed the hungry, she loved the lost.

She'd kiss all the babies, she was the boss.

Even as it dimmed that light stayed true.

Loved ones drawn to her side as only deep affection could do.

Our world is a little darker today.

Our matriarch gone. With a heavy heart I pray.

Thank you God, that you gave her to us.

Heal our grief, in you she taught us to place our faith and trust.

Author: Gabriella Freeland, Granddaughter