Catherine Seidler

Catherine Seidler, 94, Bismarck, died April 23, 2019, at St. Vincent Care Center, Bismarck.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:30 pm Saturday, April 27, at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N 2^nd St., Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Friday, April 26, at St. Vincent Care Center, 1021 N 26^th St., Bismarck. The family will be receiving guests from 10:00 am – 11:00 am Saturday, April 27, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a Catholic Daughters Rosary and Vigil service will begin at 11:00 am . Cremation has taken place.

Catherine Irene (Hammel) Seidler was born April 27, 1924 to Reinhold and Anna (Zimmerman) Hammel on a ranch near Killdeer, ND. She was welcomed as the 7th of 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls. Catherine enjoyed living on the ranch and attending a one room school with eight grades. She usually walked to and from school, cutting through neighbors' fields, but in the winter her older brothers would hook up the sleigh with a team of horses. They'd warm the bottom with warm cinders and provide the younger children with warm, heavy blankets for the couple miles to school. She loved those days! In her teen years, Catherine attended and graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Richardton, ND. 

Then came WWII, when she worked as a secretary for FSA at the Grant County Court House in Carson, then in Mott, ND. During that time, she met her loving husband, Robert Seidler, at a dance in New Leipzig, ND. They were married in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bismarck, March 27, 1944. They were blessed with four children: Douglas, Rita, Karen, and Robert. Through the years, she and Robert lived in Seattle, Minneapolis, Mandan, Elgin, Mott, and Bismarck. Catherine guided her family well, to be active in church and community affairs, travel, school activities, careers, and proud to be patriotic. In retirement, Catherine and Robert became Winter Texans 15 years prior to Robert's death in 1990. At that time, Catherine made the decision to live permanently in their Harlingen, TX home. 

Catherine was very devoted in the Catholic religion, guiding her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in the joy of the Catholic faith. She taught them Church came first, then family and friends. She was active in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, serving in local and state offices, as well as church and societal organizations. Catherine was a life member of the Benedictine Oblates and the Sodality of Our Lady. While living in TX, she led many wakes and rosaries at mortuaries for more than 30 years. Catherine played bridge most of her life, from party to competitive. She played in many various state tournaments and met her goal of playing in a World Event. She was a Silver Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. As president of the Rio Grande Valley Texas bridge unit, she was in charge of weekly bridge games, and regional and unit bridge tournaments.

Eleven years ago, Catherine, along with the urging of her children, chose to downsize again and move back to Bismarck, choosing her new home at Waterford (Touchmark). She enjoyed her ten years there being involved in church masses and chapel, as president of the resident committee, and the dining committee. She renewed and developed many life-long friendships while there, as well as enjoying remembrance visits with her sister-in-laws Esther Froelich and Delia Hammel. As was Catherine's 'style', she downsized one more time to life at St. Vincent's Care Center. There she experienced a year of learning to let others care for her. Her favorite time of each day was going to Catholic Mass. Her last year of life was one of showing and receiving kindness, love, care, joy, and much tenderness. Once again, Catherine gained many friendships.

Catherine should be remembered as a very social, kind and considerate lady who loved God, her family, helping others, entertaining, and traveling, especially to the Holy Land. 

She leaves her children and families: Douglas (Joyce), daughter Jean and grandson Hunter, and son Jay; Rita (Steve) Charlebois and daughter Jill; Karen (Jim) Alfred, daughter Sarah (Blaine) Zainhofsky, Trenton and Aurora, and son Eric (Alicia) Hillesland, Brooklynn, Gretchen, and Isaac; and Robert (Debora), daughter Jamie (Nick) Niles, Wyatt, Raegan, and Payton, and daughter Mary Catherine Seidler; her sister, Clarice Guenther and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as dear friends.

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, granddaughter, Ann Charlebois, and five brothers, one sister, and all of Robert's six sisters and one brother.