Eleanor Lucille Seedborg

Eleanor “Ellie” Lucille (Van Loo) Seedborg, age 87, of Houston, Texas, passed peacefully in her sleep on November 9, 2023, surrounded by her four daughters. She was born September 22, 1936 in Forest Grove, Oregon to Sylvester Augustus Van Loo and Dorothy Eleanor (Porter) Van Loo. Eleanor was a force to be reckoned with from the time she was born. The oldest of four children, she learned to sew as a young child, making many of her and her sibling’s school clothes. At age 8, when her mother fell ill, Ellie took over mothering duties, cooking for the family and ensuring her two sisters and brother were clothed, fed and ready for school each day. She graduated from high school at age 16, and received a full music scholarship to the University of Portland where she met and married Daryl, the love of her life, in 1956. After moving from coast to coast and everywhere in between with Daryl’s military and Shell Oil assignments, they put roots down in Houston, Texas where their fourth and final daughter Jill was born, joining Diane, Gail, and Susan to complete the Seedborg family. Mom dedicated most of her time to caring for her family. She made sure we looked appropriate when leaving the house for school, that we had opportunities to play sports and enjoy a fulfilling musical education, had a delicious meal prepared every night when dad arrived home from work, and baked birthday cakes from scratch for every single birthday! She also managed to find time to play the piano for numerous school plays, sew costumes for entire casts, accompany others during musical competitions, and chaperone school events. And all four girls were lucky enough to be the recipients of multiple hand sewn dresses for proms, homecomings, and many special occasions. When mom had a moment to spare, she could be found playing tennis with neighborhood friends, singing with the Houston Symphony Choral, volunteering with the Charity Guild, and playing bridge. In the 1970’s and early 80’s, mom spent every Sunday playing the organ at St. John Vianney, accompanying the choir, playing for weddings and funerals, and helping with CCE. And when a transfer with Shell Oil required Mom and Dad to move to Southern California, they eagerly returned to Houston upon Dad’s retirement in 1992 so they could rejoin the St. John Vianney Parish, where they would enjoy the next 31 years. Mom spent every Sunday singing with the choir, accompanying the CCE children's choir, and volunteering for every opportunity that arose. Mom was tougher than we knew. When dad required bypass surgery in 1997, mom nursed him back to health, allowing him to far outlive his expiration date by a couple of decades. After selflessly caring for dad for years, he passed, and her health began to fail. She put up a fierce battle, surprising every doctor she met, and never once believing she was dying. The day prior to her passing, she declared she still had 8 years to live because she was going to die at 95 like her mother. And mom was always right, even when she was wrong. This time, unfortunately, she was wrong. After 67 years of marriage, mom and dad were reunited once again in Heaven. And the choir of angels sounds even more beautiful than it ever has before. Eleanor is predeceased by her loving husband, Daryl Seedborg, her parents Dorothy and Sylvester Van Loo, sisters-in-law Karen Van Loo and Karyl Seedborg, niece Becky Buccholz, and nephew John Van Loo, Jr. Survivors include daughter Diane Kessel and her son Michael; daughter Gail Maldonado, her husband Sonny, and their sons Nicholas and Daniel; daughter Susan Rocha, her husband Carlos, and their daughters Georgia and Minuette; and daughter Jill van Dyk, her husband Nicolas, their daughter Parker and son Carson; sister Shirley and husband Lawrence Buccholz, sister Sarah Colter, brother John Van Loo, Sr., and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Eleanor Lucille Seedborg

September 22, 1936 - November 9, 2023