Elaine D. Seaman

Elaine D. Seaman, 86, of Norwich, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, with her loving family by her side.

Born on January 30, 1939, in Norwich, Elaine was the daughter of Orville and Elma (Gibbon) Smith. She grew up in the Springvale area and attended school in South New Berlin. Following high school, she completed training at the IBM Key Punch School and went on to work as a key punch operator at Victory Markets in Norwich. After starting her family, Elaine chose to stay home to raise her two daughters, later returning to Victory Markets in various roles until her retirement in 1990.

In the years after her husband’s passing in 1995, Elaine continued to honor his legacy by operating his antique store, “Dick’s Place,” on American Avenue in Norwich.

Elaine was a gifted seamstress who crafted much of her daughters’ clothing, complete with matching outfits for their Barbie dolls. She was a devoted Girl Scout leader, sharing her creativity and generosity with her daughters and their friends. A longtime member of Broad Street United Methodist Church, Elaine played an active role in church functions. She also found great joy in designing dried flower arrangements, especially for weddings of family and friends.

Elaine will be fondly remembered for her warmth, her creativity, and her unwavering devotion to family, friends and community.

On August 15, 1960, Elaine married Richard Seaman, who predeceased her on January 18, 1995.

Elaine is survived by her daughters, Sandra (Joseph) Robillard, of Cincinnati, OH and Susan (Dale Lawton) Seaman-Lawton, of Norwich; grandchildren, Matthew Robillard, of Cincinnati, OH, Austin Robillard, of Cincinnati, OH, Tylyn Seaman-Lawton, of Altamonte, FL, and Richelle Seaman-Lawton, of Norwich; siblings, Joan Manley, of Norwich, David Smith, of Mt. Upton, and Jane Sanford, of Plymouth; sibling-in-laws, Charles (Joan) Seaman, of Glens Falls, NY, Dolores Seaman, of Cynthiana, KY, and Wayne Wales, of Clifton Park, NY, and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at the Broad Street United Methodist Church, 74 North Broad Street, Norwich, NY on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home, 68 South Broad Street, Norwich, NY on Monday, June 23, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will occur in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Broad Street United Methodist Church Roof Fund, 74 North Broad Street, Norwich, NY 13815.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted with the Wilson Funeral Home.