Seby Dheere

Born to Carmelo and Concetta Attardi Spadaro, in Pochino, Sicily, Seby, at age seven, sailed from Polarmo to New York City by way of Ellis Island with her mother and older brother and sister, Charles and Antonette. Her father arrived in America two years earlier, then sent for his family when he established their new home in Brooklyn, NY, and secured employment as a custom shoe maker. Later, Concetta gave birth to Johnnie, Angello, and Gracie (six children in all).

Selby attended the New York City public school in Brooklyn through the 10th grade then worked in the garment district in Lower Manhattan where she met her future husband, Bernard Dheere, the elevator operator in her building. After a brief romance they eloped and married in a civil service in Jersey City, September 1935. The newly weds briefly lived near her parents in Brooklyn for a few years, then moved to Jersey City. Seby gave birth to their only child Bernard Charles, September 5, 1937, then moved to Hoboken, NJ, two years after young Bernie arrived, to be near her mother and father-in-law but still in easy commuting distance to the garment district.

In 1944, Seby, Bernie, and Bernie Junior moved to West New York, NJ, where they lived for eight years. Seby and Bernie so loved the seashore where they vacationed often and moved again to Point Pleasant on the Jersey Shore. Seby commuted to New York to continue her career as a master sewing machine operator.

After 25 years of sewing, she retired and the couple moved to Farmingdale, NJ, where they purchased and operated a poultry farm. After 15 years on the farm, they retired; and followed Bernie Junior and his family to Iowa in 1977. Her husband passed away in April 1989. Seby relocated to Lake View, Iowa, to be near her son and his family. She lived independently until moving to Twilight Acres four years ago.

Seby loved her family with earnest passion. She enjoyed reading, cooking, and playing her electronic organ.

She passed away approximately 11:00 pm, Wednesday, the 17th of December, 2003, of natural causes, at the age of 87. Her son Bernard; daughter-in-law Connie; grandsons: Jeffrey and Thomas; step-grandchildren: Jill Clark Peters, Sara Clark Reis, and Ben Clark; and her great-step grandchildren Sarah Anne Peters and Garret Allen Peters survive her with love in their hearts and wonderful memories of a selfless, giving, lady.

Visitation is at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Wall Lake beginning at 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 20, 2003, prior to the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Donald Gibson will be officiating. Pallbearers will be members of Seby’s family with burial at the Ferguson Cemetery in Lake View.