SEIM, Cay R. (nee Laughlin)

September 29, 1935 - March 26, 2023

On Sunday March 26th, 2023, Cay Royetta Seim (nee Laughlin) loving wife, mother, grandma, and dear friend passed away at home at the age of 87 years. Bob, her husband of 61 years, was holding her hand.

Cay was born and raised on a farm near Erin, Ontario. She was an accomplished pianist completing Royal Conservatory training followed by degree level courses. After finishing Grade 12 at Erin High School and Grade 13 at GCVI in Guelph, Cay attended Hamilton Teacher’s College, training as a Primary Specialist. She subsequently taught in Ontario public schools in Guelph, Galt, Kingston, and Bloomingdale as well as teaching music to children of the Winterbourne area.

Cay and Bob married in 1962 and settled in Kingston. Cay continued her teaching career there to support Bob in his pursuit of a university education in psychology at Queen’s University, undergraduate and graduate studies. With their first born, Garth, the family moved to Waterloo where Bob joined the psychology department at the University of Waterloo first as a lecturer while he completed his doctoral studies then eventually in a full-time tenured position. In 1967, the family purchased a home in Winterbourne, Ontario, where their second child, Jill, was born. The family was later completed with the adoption of Noel at age 4 years. The Seim Family remained in the Winterbourne homestead for 55 years, relocating in 2021 to the retirement community of Riverside Glen in Guelph, Ontario, and selling the Winterbourne property in 2022. Cay enjoyed spending time and making new friends at Chesley Lake Camp, and she and Bob were quite active at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph.

Cheerful, kind, supportive, and well spoken, Cay will be dearly missed by all who loved her. She has left many unforgettable cherished memories with her husband Bob, daughter Jill, son-in-law Mike Clermont, and their children Mikayla and Marc as well as relatives from the Laughlin, Thompson, Seim and Clermont Families. Cay is predeceased by her son Garth in 1994, adopted son Noel in 2020, and her parents Roy and Fern Laughlin.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday May 6th, 2023 at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph (519-822-0051 or www.wallcustance.com). A light luncheon will follow at Wall-Custance. Private interment will occur at Huxley Cemetery in Hillsburgh.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph.

A tree will be planted in memory of Cay R. Seim in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.