Kent lost a kind, generous soul last month with the passing of Libby Seidel, a dedicated volunteer and community advocate.
If you ever met Libby, you know that she valued her family and friends above all else, and she would do anything for anybody. She particularly loved her community, and she supported and volunteered for many worthy organizations including Kent Downtown Partnership and the Kent Police Department.
I met Libby shortly after moving to Kent in 2005. She was a volunteer at Kent Downtown Partnership at the time, and we worked on many projects and events together, including hosting Wine Women Wow. It was a fun event designed to bring women to downtown Kent to enjoy shopping, camaraderie and wine. She worked tirelessly on the event, and I had an opportunity to get to know her. Though I was new to Kent, Libby treated me like she’d known me her whole life. She was always willing to lend a hand and to support a good cause. Libby also wasn’t shy about voicing her opinion if she felt she could make a difference.
One of the things I loved about Libby is that, despite her health issues, she was always smiling, even when she was in pain. Whether I was visiting her at home or following her on Facebook, it was obvious that she was madly in love with her husband Dave who took such good care of her throughout their life together. She posted photos and updates of their travels and shared news of her far away family of whom she was so proud. We also shared a love of Snoopy, and through Snoopy and Charlie Brown memes, she marked the holidays and the seasons for us all to enjoy.
Libby was also a faithful believer in the Christmas newsletter which I enjoyed reading every year. I received the last one dated February 2. Libby had written it before she died but hadn’t mailed it yet. Despite the sad news he had to share, Dave continued Libby’s tradition and mailed the newsletter anyway. She would have loved that.
It is still surreal to me that Libby is gone. In the last few years, I had not seen Libby often, but she stayed in touch with me, and she always asked me about my family and my work. I last heard from her just before Christmas. I still can’t believe that’s the last time I will ever hear from her. The community will not be the same without her…but it is better because of her.
– Dana Neuts
• A funeral mass will be held for Libby at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 6915 State Route 92, Lake Stevens, WA 98258. All are welcome.
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