Obituary for Marty Seneta (Williams)
Martha “Marty” W. (Williams) Seneta, age 72, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, MA, passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Lahey Hospital, in Burlington, MA, after a long illness.
Born in Syracuse, NY, on April 17, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Cleon “Willie” L. Williams, Jr., and Marian (Pennock) Williams. After Marty earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Syracuse University, she and her former husband were fortunate to experience living in several different regions, including San Antonio, TX; Hof, Germany; and Atlanta, GA. They eventually settled in the Boston area, where Marty would later earn a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College (now Simmons University).
Marty worked as children’s librarian for several years at Medford Public Library, in Medford, MA; she later moved to Gleason Public Library, in Carlisle, MA, where she served for almost 20 years as head of children’s and later as assistant director. Marty passed her love of reading on to her own children as well as to generations of library patrons in Medford and Carlisle, where “Miss Marty” worked hard to make coming to the library a fun experience for kids. She was an avid reader in her own free time, and she continued to participate in her book group long after her illness had robbed her of the ability to speak.
Marty enjoyed traveling with family and friends. As a young adult, she traveled through much of Europe and spent 8 weeks visiting national parks throughout the U.S. She would later visit destinations as far-flung as Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Aruba, North Carolina, and Hawaii.
A high-spirited woman, Marty appreciated good food, music, board games, and social activities. When her daughter was growing up, Marty was Girl Scout troop leader for several years and took the girls on many fun field trips. In later years, Marty joined MOVING ON, a social group based in Lexington, MA, where she made good friends and served as an officer. Throughout her life, Marty looked forward to summers spent at The Pines, a summer home in central NY where generations of her extended family reunite each year.
Marty is survived by her mother, Marian P. Williams, of Camillus, NY; her children, Martha H. Seneta (Colin Kjosen), of Seattle, WA, and Christopher E. Seneta, of Chelmsford, MA; and her grandson, Joshua E. Kjosen. She also leaves her sisters, Ginger Kenney (Buz), of Morristown, NJ, and Lucy Williams, of Skaneateles, NY, and her nieces and nephew, Laura, Caroline, and Timothy Kenney. She is also survived by her former husband, Eugene P. Seneta.
Visiting hours will take place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD, MA. Her funeral service will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, May 3, 2019, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 10 Billerica Rd., CHELMSFORD, MA. PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will be private. While flowers are welcome, memorial contributions may be made to Reach Out and Read (http://www.reachoutandread.org/) or to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/donate/).
Born in Syracuse, NY, on April 17, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Cleon “Willie” L. Williams, Jr., and Marian (Pennock) Williams. After Marty earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Syracuse University, she and her former husband were fortunate to experience living in several different regions, including San Antonio, TX; Hof, Germany; and Atlanta, GA. They eventually settled in the Boston area, where Marty would later earn a master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College (now Simmons University).
Marty worked as children’s librarian for several years at Medford Public Library, in Medford, MA; she later moved to Gleason Public Library, in Carlisle, MA, where she served for almost 20 years as head of children’s and later as assistant director. Marty passed her love of reading on to her own children as well as to generations of library patrons in Medford and Carlisle, where “Miss Marty” worked hard to make coming to the library a fun experience for kids. She was an avid reader in her own free time, and she continued to participate in her book group long after her illness had robbed her of the ability to speak.
Marty enjoyed traveling with family and friends. As a young adult, she traveled through much of Europe and spent 8 weeks visiting national parks throughout the U.S. She would later visit destinations as far-flung as Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Aruba, North Carolina, and Hawaii.
A high-spirited woman, Marty appreciated good food, music, board games, and social activities. When her daughter was growing up, Marty was Girl Scout troop leader for several years and took the girls on many fun field trips. In later years, Marty joined MOVING ON, a social group based in Lexington, MA, where she made good friends and served as an officer. Throughout her life, Marty looked forward to summers spent at The Pines, a summer home in central NY where generations of her extended family reunite each year.
Marty is survived by her mother, Marian P. Williams, of Camillus, NY; her children, Martha H. Seneta (Colin Kjosen), of Seattle, WA, and Christopher E. Seneta, of Chelmsford, MA; and her grandson, Joshua E. Kjosen. She also leaves her sisters, Ginger Kenney (Buz), of Morristown, NJ, and Lucy Williams, of Skaneateles, NY, and her nieces and nephew, Laura, Caroline, and Timothy Kenney. She is also survived by her former husband, Eugene P. Seneta.
Visiting hours will take place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD, MA. Her funeral service will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, May 3, 2019, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 10 Billerica Rd., CHELMSFORD, MA. PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will be private. While flowers are welcome, memorial contributions may be made to Reach Out and Read (http://www.reachoutandread.org/) or to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/donate/).