Irene Ford Seal

Irene Ford Seal , born January 27, 1932, passed away in the morning of June 17, 2023, in the loving arms of her daughters. She is greeted in heaven by her parents, Marcene Campbell Alexander and Clyde Samuel Ford; loving husband, Mack Williams Seal; her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane and Jim Bland; and her niece, Susan Elaine Bland Carpenter Rep.
Irene and Mack were married in Akron, OH, on October 5, 1948, and their two daughters, Debra Seal Hite and Nancy Ann Seal, were their greatest treasure. Irene loved nothing more than gifting her contagious energy and colorful stories to the next generation. Her grandchildren and their spouses, Heather Hite Stone, Thomas Erskine Hite, III (JoBeth), Merideth Irene Hite Estevez (Edwin), Mack Seal Hite (Courtney), as well as nieces, Holly Carpenter Brock (Tom) and Heidi Carpenter Licht (Peter), remember her generosity, playfulness, and deep love of Starbucks decaf non-fat lattes.
In addition to her daughters and grandchildren, Irene is also survived by her son-in-law, Thomas E. Hite; nephew, Thomas H. Bland (Linda); their daughter, Sydney Bland Burkhart and her husband, Austin Burkhart, and soon-to-come Baby Chloe Burkhart, as well as her great-grandnephew, Tommy Brock, and nine great-grandchildren, Beau Hite, Harper Stone, Handley Hite, Frankie Stone, Fox Hite, Macy Hite, Eva Estevez, Mack Seal Hite, Jr., and Eli Estevez.
Irene had many caregivers as she aged, and the family is forever grateful to Cheryle Lemonovich, Stacey Underwood, Kayla Underwood, Alexis Clapper, and the entire staff at Crossroads Hospice.
We remember her love of learning—from voracious reading to sticking labels with French words on everything in the house—her “black belt in shopping,” and how you could find her every afternoon with a cup of tea hunched over a puzzle in the dining room. We will miss her unique mixture of tenderness and strength and hearing her little “yoo-hoo” from across the house or grocery store. “Irene” or “Daba”—her life mattered to many; she was deeply loved.

The family will hold a private funeral service and a celebration of life at a later date.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Falls Chapel, 1907 23rd Street  Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44223.