 Mary Marcella Selzer
Aug. 22,1914-Aug. 26,2012
Resident of Capitola
Mary Marcella Selzer passed away peacefully in Capitola, California on August 26, 2012. Marcella, as she was known for most of her life, recently celebrated her 98th birthday on August 22. Born in Roundup, Montana, the daughter of Chester Emmett Wofford and Camilla Urso Mahan, she attended Santa Cruz High School and was a member of the class of 1933. She graduated from nursing school at UC Berkeley, and was a resident of the Santa Cruz area for 80 years..Working as a registered nurse with Santa Cruz County, she traveled throughout the county as a public health nurse specializing in education awareness of communicable diseases, primarily tuberculosis at that time. Marcella met Dr. Ludwig Selzer at Santa Cruz County Hospital, and they were married on December 7, 1941..They raised three children and Marcella was an active parent with the PTA and other school activities.
Music was a great love of hers which she shared with Ludwig. She welcomed local musicians into her home to play chamber music and for many years. she provided housing for musicians performing in the Cabrillo Music Festival. She maintained a deep interest in the arts and wrote poetry up until her last days. She also appreciated the visual arts, visited galleries frequently, and collected fine art. She was a devoted and talented gardener, growing beautiful begonias and orchids.. As an active contributor to the community of Santa Cruz, Marcella was member and volunteer for organizations such as the Red Cross, the NAACP and the Democratic Party. One of her joys was to support young people just starting out with their plans and goals. To the final days of her life she had a keen interest and grasp of local happenings, current events, national politics, and what was happening on the world stage.
Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Ludwig in 1977, and by her son Gerald Selzer in 2007. She is survived by her daughter, Fern Selzer of Aptos, her son David Selzer of Novato, CA, her daughter-in-law, Cathy Selzer of Potomac, Maryland, her four grandchildren, Emy Fehmi, Juliet Patrick, Christine Selzer, and Jonathan Selzer, and by her dear friend and caregiver Apolonia Day of Santa Cruz.
She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Home of Peace Jewish Cemetery beside her husband Ludwig. Any kind acts of charity may be made in her memory to the Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 or the Cabrillo Music Festival, 147 S. River St., Ste. 232, Santa Cruz CA 95060. To light a candle and share your thoughts and condolences with her family, please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel on September 2, 2012
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