Obituary of Kenneth L. Seaman

Kenneth Seaman, 83, finally succumbed to a lengthy illness on Tuesday, April 1, 2008. His sons Tim and Jeff Seaman were at his bedside when he passed away quietly, lifting his hands once to clasp theirs. Ken lived a full life, leaving high school at the age of 18 to join the Navy on January 27, 1943 to serve the war effort in World War II. He served honorable as a Navy Seabee (the construction battalion, CB) and a held a rank of Fireman, 1st Class during his tour of duty. Ken was one of the hardest workers anyone has ever seen. When he came back home after World War II, he did a stint as an Ice Man. Not many today would know what that job was or what it entailed. This was before the “fridge,” when people kept perishable food fresh by putting it in a wooden box with a block of ice inside. Ken would put a large patch of leather on his back, pick up a pair of large steel tongs and grab a 50 lb block of ice, sling it over his shoulders and lug it up three flights of stairs for a customer. He repeated this 50 times a day. When Ken married Anita, they moved down from Rochester, NH to Peabody, MA and he got a job with the Peabody Electric Light Plant. He worked as a lineman, a dangerous job, working high up on the poles with electric wires, and one you were guaranteed to get called in on in the worst possible weather! Ken retired from the company after 25 years. He was devoted husband to Anita and a warm and loving father to his two sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Joan Seaman of Peabody and Jeff and Jean Seaman of Beverly, and thought the world of his three grandchildren, always wanting to know of their problems and their accomplishments, Patrick and Katie Seaman of Beverly and Bryan Seaman of Peabody. He is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, James and Flossie Seaman of Bathe Maine. Ken will always be remembered as a strong gentle man who would always be the first to offer a helping hand if needed. He will be greatly missed. His funeral service will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, b> 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Ann’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody.