Delynn "Dee" Seyller

1927 - 2022

Delynn "Dee" Seyller
March 14, 1927 - April 28, 2022
Fresno, California - Dee was one in a million. She was a beautiful and incredible nurse, wife, mother, GG, career woman, and friend. On Thursday night, April 28, she joined her husband Richard in heaven just in time to celebrate his 100th birthday. We rejoice that they are dancing together again.
Dee was born in Peoria, Illinois at Saint Francis Hospital at 12:15 am on March 14, 1927. She was always a night owl after that! She graduated Bloom Township High School and Augustana Hospital, Chicago, Illinois with her Registered Nursing Degree. Later in her nursing career she also received a Master's in Business Administration while she was working full time.
Dee met her future husband Richard L. Seyller on a blind date set up by Harriett Smejkal, her soon to be sister-in-law. Richard "Dick" was a former navy flyer and graduated from De Paul University with a degree in physical education. They were married on December 26, 1948 and immediately moved to Fresno, CA.
Dee knew she wanted to be a nurse from the age of 12. She began working at the County Hospital (later known as Valley Medical Center and University Medical Center). After a short stint at County, she began working at Saint Agnes Medical Center in 1958 and retired on January 1, 1991 after 33 years of service – beginning as a staff nurse and working her way to the top of administration as Senior Executive Vice President for Corporate Development. She was proud to work at Saint Agnes and greatly admired and enjoyed the camaraderie of all the Sisters of the Holy Cross and working alongside her many colleagues. The Sisters inspired her to always take on new challenges and climb the corporate ladder.
Dee was team leader and responsible for the move of Saint Agnes Hospital from its original location on Floradora to the current location on Herndon. She played key roles in the development of The Windham at Saint Agnes, Saint Agnes Hospice, the California Eye Institute, the Holy Cross Center for Women located on the Poverello House campus, and the Fresno Women's Network.
Dee was recognized many times for her work and community contributions. Her favorite career award was the YWCA (Marjaree Mason Center) Top Woman of the Year award in 1985, and her most cherished award was being declared Mother of the year in 1987 by the Fresno County Women's Chamber of Commerce.
Work, however, did not get in the way of having fun and maintaining life-long friendships. Dee was in the same bridge club for over 60 years. She and Richard held a golf and social membership for years at Copper River Country Club. Even after she couldn't golf anymore, she and her ladies golf buddies still got together often for lunch.
Dee and Richard traveled often to visit relatives in the mid-west and explored the world (United States, Italy, Hong Kong, Spain, Egypt, Seychelles, Africa, China, several cruises). There were many weekend family escapes to Shaver Lake and the central coast. They also loved to dance and could really cut a rug!
Dee's true joy and number one priority is and always has been her family. No matter what was going on in her life, she would drop everything to be with or talk to one of her children or grandchildren. She would always be waiting up after her daughters got home from dates and talk until the wee hours of the morning. She loved to cook, entertain, to dance, to walk on the beach, to travel and learn about different cultures, to read romance and detective novels, and wore classy and stylish clothes. She was someone with whom you could celebrate all life's ups and downs and know that she was going to be non-judgmental, fair, empathetic and compassionate. She was the best mom and GG anyone could ever have.
Her love, wisdom and laugh will be greatly missed by her 3 daughters and sons-in-law (who she considered her own): Pam and Gene Kallsen, Lynn and Tony Bennink, and Lori Seyller, her 4 grandchildren: Erika Jennings (Brad), Corry Bennink (Jess), Leslie Williams (Johnny), and Laura Boyd (Jeff). She also leaves 9 great-grandchildren: Annabell and Thijs Jennings, Casey and Jordan Bennink, John and Jace Williams, and Sullivan, Seyller and Sloane Boyd. Dee is also survived by nephews in Illinois, Washington, and Monterey, California.
Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her knight in shining armor - Richard Seyller, sister Betty Tarr, and brother William Probasco.
Her family would like to extend our greatest love and appreciation to Oakmont of Fresno where Dee spent the last 7 years enjoying great food, activities, excursions and fantastic and compassionate care as she moved through each stage of aging. And to Hinds Hospice who gave us the greatest gift by helping us to be with Dee for the last week of her life. The Hinds angels ensured that she was comfortable, pain free, and peaceful as she transitioned to Heaven to be with her loved ones who had passed before her.
A private family celebration was held in her honor. Remembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice, 2490 W. Shaw, Fresno, CA 93711, or your favorite charity.