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Virginia Alice Bandy Seery, a resident of Belen since 1925, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2004 at a nursing home in Belen, NM. Virginia was born in Huron, South Dakota to Thomas Walter and Bertha Ross Bandy on February 5, 1911. She was the youngest of three children, James Ross, Margaret, Elizabeth and Virginia. When Virginia was nine years old in 1920, her father died suddenly. Her mother Bertha moved the two girls, along with Virginia's grandparents to Belton, Texas to teach English at Baylor College for Women. Next they went to Silver City, NM to teach at NM State Teachers College. Virginia lived with her sister, Margaret in Belen for one year in 1925-26, where she attended school. It was at this time she met John Alfred Seery, a young high school student. Virginia's mother continued her education at college in Nebraska, so Virginia moved once again to Broken Bow, NB where she graduated from high school in 1928. They once again returned to New Mexico, so her mother could take a teaching job in Los Lunas, NM. Virginia attended the University of New Mexico in fall of 1929 where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and continued her relationship with Al. Virginia and Al Seery were married on December 7, 1933 in Carlsbad, NM at the home of her sister, Margaret Mallow and then set up residence in Belen. The couple owned property on east River Road in Belen, where they reared two daughters and two sons. Virginia learned to play the piano from her mother and she completed a two year home study piano course of music theory and technique, receiving her certificate in 1936. She played the piano and organ for the Presbyterian Church in Belen from 1957-1978. Countless hours of practice for Sunday church services, weddings, funerals and choir were spent at home and at the church. She also taught Sunday school classes, was a deacon and sang in the choir. Virginia played Bridge with a group of close friends weekly, from 1934-1995, a total of 61 years. Virginia was active in Jassamine Chapter #45, order of Eastern Star and was Worthy Matron in 1943. In 1997 she was the oldest living Worthy Matron in Belen. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Al in 1986; her parents; her brother and her sister. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Margaret Seery Snow and her husband, Robert of Carlsbad, NM, Marilyn Seery Beal of Hillsborough, CA; her sons, Alfred Seery and his wife, Josephine of Bosque Farms, NM, and David Seery and his wife, Carol of Socorro, NM; her ten grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Rio Communities. Interment will follow at Terrace Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Romero Funeral Home 609 N. Main St. Belen NM 87002.
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