Ignatia Seys

Ignatia Caroline (Willaert) Seys, age 87, of Janesville, died on November 3, 2016, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Novermber 8th, 11:00 a.m., at St. Anns Catholic Church in Janesville, with Father Mike Cronin officiating. Visitation will be Monday, November 7th, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Starkson and Steffel Funeral Home ~ Arnoldt Chapel Janesville, and one hour before mass at the church.

Ignatia was born in Mankato Township, in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, on July 20, 1929 to Cyrille Henry & Mary Theresa (Depuydt) Willaert. She attended Ss Peter & Paul's Catholic Grade School, and graduated from Loyola High School in Mankato on June 6, 1947. She was united in marriage on March 31, 1948 to Peter Emil Seys of rural Mankato, at Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Mankato. They lived on the S. B. Wilson farm on the south shore of Madison Lake for over 8 years before moving to their Janesville Township farm on February 5, 1957.

Ignatia was active in Janesville Schools serving as Treasurer of the PTA and helped at vision and hearing clinics. She worked at Bird’s Eye in Waseca , The Janesville Dairy Queen and The Janesville Bakery. She was an avid flower gardener, reader, baker, and cake decorator. She loved traveling, and she enjoyed sewing for her family. She was most proud of the beautiful quilts she made for her grandchildren when they graduated from high school. She was active in St. Ann's Catholic Church as a member of the CCW, serving as President in 1968 and 1986. She taught religion classes for several years, and was a member of the Winona Diocesan CCW, the Owatonna-Waseca Area CCW, where she served as President in 1984 and 1986. She also served on the Winona Diocesan CCW Board of Directors from 1989 to 2000. She spent many hours sewing quilts at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Janesville for the Catholic Missions. She was a Waseca County 4-H leader for 20 years and managed the Waseca County Fair 4-H food stand during this time. She was a member of the Lakeshore Club, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. She most enjoyed time spent with her family and friends. Ignatia and Peter enjoyed the many fishing outings they had together.

She is survived by seven Children;
Diane (Jim) Baudoin of Grand Meadow, Dan (Judy K.) Seys of Janesville, Darlene Hughes of Burnsville, Bonnie (Rich) Bromley of Owatonna, Gary (Judy A.) Seys of Janesville, Marie (Chuck) Retka of Le Sueur (St. Thomas), and Peter (Brenda) Seys of North Mankato, and special family friend, Wayne Grams from Owatonna.

25 Grandchildren & 28 Great Grandchildren;
Jamie (Laura) Baudoin-(Blake & Brooklyn) of Rochester, Kelli Baudoin-(Caden) (Richard Sperry), Kristen Baudoin-(Ethan) (fiancé Scott Goergen) Amy Baudoin (Kirk Felten), all from Rochester & Amanda (Cole) Queensland of Grand Meadow; Laura Seys-(Kaylee & Shane) (Bill Reiniger) of Janesville, Katie (Miguel) Reyes- (Ariana, Christian, Demian, Carlia & Sienna) of Janesville; Melissa (Andy) Fehlen of Maplewood, Heidi (Richard) Raymond-(Justin & Dominic) of Farmington, Eric (Nicole) Grams -(Lucas) of Prior Lake; Kristi (Jamie) Jorgenson -(Dylan & Shyane) of Blooming Prairie, Michelle Bromley-(Bailey, Skyler, & Jayger) of Owatonna, Teresa Bromley (fiancé Andy Briggs) & Willie Bromley (fiancée Sandy Popowski) of Mankato; Tammy (John) Barnes-(Colin & Ian) of Janesville, Tracy Fall-(Avery & Eli) of New Prague, Brandon Seys of Mankato; Jason Retka of St. Paul, Jessica Retka of Moab, Utah, Jared Retka of Oxford, England, & Jenna Retka of St. Paul; Chris Erickson-(Gage, Ava, & Cain) of Rochester, Shawna (Justin) Mack-( Lorelai & Alex) of Dover, Delaware, Samantha (Mike) Vogel of Mankato & Stuart Seys of North Mankato.

She is also survived by a brother; Leon Willaert of St. Peter; Sister-in-laws, Mary Willaert of Gaylord, Kay Willaert & Fran Willaert of Mankato; Brother-in-laws Jerome (Janice) Seys, George Seys of St. Clair, and hundreds of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Peter E. on February 10, 2011; Parents Cyrille Henry and Mary Theresa Willaert; Son-In-Law, Jim Hughes; and Great Grandson, Alex Jorgenson; two sisters, Marie Willaert and Joan (Roger) Mikolai; Brothers; Joe (Florence) Willaert, Robert Willaert, Lawrence (Pat) Willaert, Frank Willaert, Art (Lois)Willaert, and Andrew Willaert; In-laws, Henry (Irma) Seys, Martha (Valere) Pluym, Hector (Leona) Seys, Oscar (Eileen) Seys, Mary (John) Depuydt, Allie Seys, Kay Seys, Shirley Seys, Dorothy Willaert, and Armella Willaert.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Mayo Hospice East, or to a charity of your choice.