Ellen “Sissy” Seader, 94, Girl Scout Leader.

Ellen “Sissy” Seader of Manchester, Connecticut, died peacefully at home of natural causes on May 19. She was born Ellen Cohen in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was given the nickname “Sissy” almost from birth because she had a twin brother, Alan. She grew up in Springfield and attended Boston University. After graduating she married Leonard Seader, and they made a life together in Manchester. Leonard Seader died in 1997.

She leaves behind three children and a granddaughter, Lori Seader (Cliff Pullman, deceased) of New York City, Andrea Seader (Sam Harrison) of Manchester, Michael Seader (Laurie Loweecey) of Denver, Colorado, and the light of her life, her granddaughter, Elizabeth Pullman (Eitan Itzkowitz) of New York City.

While raising her children she was active in the Manchester community and a gracious and generous host of events at her home. She was an executive in the Sisterhood at Temple Beth Sholom and a teacher in the Manchester school system—some of you may remember having Mrs. Seader as a substitute at your elementary school or Junior High. Sissy didn’t leave her English teacher pedigree at work; she insisted her children speak with proper English, often correcting their misuse of pronouns and pronunciation of words at the dinner table (as anyone who’s talked to the Seader kids knows, it wasn’t always effective.)

Sissy’s life took an unusual turn when she returned to college as a middle-aged student. She earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut. She was proudly one of the oldest students in the program, and even prouder to have been hired immediately upon graduation as a counselor at the University’s Student Mental Health Services. She worked at UCONN for thirty-five years, was promoted to Director of Mental Health Services, and retired at the age of seventy-five. Not one to sit still, in “retirement” Ellen opened a private counseling practice in Manchester and counseled patients until the age of ninety, when she finally retired for good.

Throughout the years her kids, their friends, and her extended family could count on Sissy to listen to the current crisis or problem in their lives without judgement—not always easy with three teenagers in the house. Family and friends knew her home was a safe haven where they were always welcome; it was a place of refuge where they could be safe and comfortable in times of distress. Sometimes they just needed someone to talk to, sometimes a place to stay for a day, often times longer. As the saying goes: They came for a day and stayed for a lifetime, and she was proud of her legacy of the lost souls who found peace in her home. There’s a good chance if you’re reading this you know one of these people, and maybe even are one.

In Sissy’s final years she could be found enjoying an ice cream at Shady Glen, donating to the video poker machine at Mohegan Sun, active at her synagogue, and using her world-class bridge playing skills to play online with top players from around the world. Most importantly, she managed to gather her thoughts in her last year to write what she called her ”Book”, a collection of memories titled Alan and Me about the relationship between her and her twin brother Alan, who was born with cerebral palsy and died at 75.

Sissy played a little piano, sang, danced, and acted a bit. She could throw a baseball, hit a tennis ball, and was a super swimmer. She ran the Manchester Road race starting in the 1970s, famously won her division at the age of 70, and impressively ran her last MRR at 80. She was a quiet and classy activist who was known to host gatherings and fundraisers at her home for causes she championed.

Her children joked with Sissy that that it took a village to be sure she had proper care and comfort in her waning years, so thanks have to be given to those who made sure she had it, a true village of caregivers, drivers, delivery people, assistants, doctors, friends, and extended family—far too many to acknowledge individually here.

Caring, incredibly generous. smart, athletic, beautiful, and the best friend everyone dreams about having, the world’s greatest Mom has left us all better off for having known her and having had her in our lives.

Donations can be made to The Leonard Seader Fund at Temple Beth Sholom B’nai Israel located at 400 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT., 06040 or Myshul.org or by phone at (860) 643-9563

In a moment of reflection knowing the end was near, Sissy thought about the most important thing her obituary should say, and she told her kids: Be sure to tell them I was a Girl Scout Leader. A wish fulfilled.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 12:30pm at Beth Sholom B'nai Israel located at 400 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT 06040. Burial will be private at the request of the family. To leave an online condolence please visit www.blumensteinfuneralhome.com