It is with sorrow and much love that the family of Wanda Marie Seel announces her passing on July 5, 2026, at the age of 95.

Wanda was born in Winnipeg on December 9, 1930, to John and Bernice Paprocke. She spent her youth in Winnipeg studying music. Her main instrument was the violin, which she learned under the tutelage of John Waterhouse, who was a fellow with the London School of Music. After graduating from high school, she taught music at a music school started by teachers from the Bornoff School of Music. It involved teaching not only in Winnipeg, but also Dryden, Kenora and Keewatin, Ontario. She taught violin, piano, steel guitar and tap dance. Together with her younger sister, Sophie, she also choreographed dances for different theatres.

When she was in her late teens, she followed her parents west and moved to Radium Hot Springs, B.C. She met and fell in love with Eugen Seel, and they were married in 1951 in Edgewater, B.C., where they built their home. They had five children – Darcy, Rodney, Randall, Carl and Denise. She was active in the family business of Seel Forest Products by being the office manager, supervising sales, dealing with brokers and looking after the bookkeeping.

Concurrently, she was deeply involved in the cultural scene of the Columbia Valley. She started a tap- and music studio in Invermere and Edgewater. Together with Eileen Madson, who accompanied on the piano they entertained at banquets and conventions. She created and directed theatre productions. In 1975 she started playing as a violinist for the Kootenay Chamber Orchestra in Kimberley/Cranbrook, which later changed into the Symphony of the Kootenays. She played for them for many years.

Locally, she was also a member of the Lockwood Quartet, which consisted of Barry Moore on piano, Dr. Lorne Bueckert on cello, Sharon Morgan on flute and Wanda on violin. They organized and performed at many concerts in the Columbia Valley.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s she started a music program at the Edgewater school. She also taught privately piano out of her home to many students in the area.

Aside from music Wanda enjoyed gardening and was a vivacious reader who, in her later years read a great volume of books until her eyesight failed her just a few months before her death.

She had a long and fulfilled life as a supportive partner to her husband, a loving mother and grandmother, and an accomplished artist.

Wanda was predeceased by her parents, Bernice Paprocke (1974) and John Paprocke (1975), her sister Sophie Sim (2002), her brother Edward Paprocke (2011) and her husband Eugen Seel (2016). She is survived by her children, Darcy Seel (Laurie Ruault), Rod Seel (Birgit Koster), Randy Seel (Sherry), Carl Seel (Rozel), Denise Tegart (George), as well as 11 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 8 step great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

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