Mary E. Haddon

Mary Elizabeth Duck Haddon, 99, of Lancaster, PA, passed away September 30, 2025. She was the wife of the late Richard M. Seymour of Long Island, NY and Gettysburg, PA.

Mary was born July 30, 1926, in the old Bellefonte Hospital in Bellefonte, PA to William N. and Lulu M. (Hackman) Duck, Sr. of Millheim, PA. She was active in the 4-H program in Centre Co. as a child and sang alto in the St. John’s Lutheran Church choir in Millheim starting at age 12. She volunteered as an aircraft spotter for the Ground Observers’ Corp during World War II. She graduated in 1944 as class valedictorian from East Penn Valley High School and then from Temple University School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1947. While in Philadelphia she sang in a choir as a tenor.

Over Mary’s nursing career she worked as a registered nurse at Temple University Hospital, Germantown Hospital, Gettysburg Hospital, and the Adams County Nursing Home. Between nursing careers, she raised four children. Her children consider themselves fortunate to have had a mother who was so kind and gentle. She not only supported her children’s interests, but also sometimes joined them in their favorite activities like horseback riding and playing musical instruments.

Mary and her husband Dick rode horseback and bicycles on the Gettysburg battlefield. She first learned to ride a bike when she was in her fifties with Dick jogging next to her to steady her.

Sewing was always a hobby for Mary, but she caught the quilting bug at age 70 when she moved to Lancaster from Gettysburg. She was very talented working with stained glass and family members will always treasure the stained glass creations and quilts she gave them. She enjoyed playing piano and harpsichord and sang with the AARP chorus. Her family always looked forward to her pecan pies and five-cup salad at holiday gatherings. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster and the Red Rose Quilters Guild.

Mary is survived by her daughters Mary Haddon Doyle of Lancaster and Diane V. Haddon (Fred Allendorf) of Missoula, MT, and sons Harry H. Haddon III of Lancaster and David A. (Kathy) Haddon of Denver, PA; daughter-in-law Sharon K. Sacks of Lancaster; grandchildren Mara (Edward) Pritchard, Liz Balleweg (Jess Wojcik), Julia (Michael) Losito, Caleb Haddon, Mark (Brittany) Haddon, Scott Haddon, and Milena (Ethan) Misiak; and great-grandchildren Aubrey, Daniel, Grace, Luca, and Elias. Her nieces and nephews include William N. (Naomi) Duck III of Lancaster, Betty Bingham of Lancaster, John J. (Pat) Duck, Jr. of Pittsburgh, PA, and Jeanine (Glen) Dietz of Ocean, NJ.

Mary was predeceased by her brother, William N. Duck, Jr. and his wife Dorothy Hampton Duck, of Lancaster, and Mary’s brother, John J. Duck and his wife, Lillian B. Duck of Akron, OH and their son Jamie Duck.

According to Mary’s wishes, the internment with her parents at the Fairview Cemetery in Millheim was private. A celebration of life will be held at a place and date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra or the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.

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