Margaret Hartzell

Join the Zoom Meeting for the 11 am Saturday Sept 23 Service with this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81358616033?pwd=M3VCeDJUc1hwak9YemJweCtVelFqQT09

Mrs. Margaret (Maggi) Seeley Hartzell, at 97 years, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2023 at the Homewood Retirement Community.

Born October 11, 1925 in Washington D.C. she was the daughter of Douglas Alexander and Margaret Krieg Seeley. She attended Wilson High School in Washington D.C. and upon graduation accepted a position as a secretary to a Congressman until her marriage.

She was the loving, caring and wonderful wife of the late Francis (Fran) William Hartzell with whom she shared 65 years of marriage before his passing in 2011. She always said he was her one and only love forever.

Maggi’s spirit, wit and strength will live on in her four children, Douglas and wife Nancy (Southlake, Texas), Dennis and wife Sheila (San Francisco, California), Debra H. Nyby and husband John (Bethlehem, PA), and Donna H. Fickett and husband David (Silver Spring, MD) along with her eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. The memory of her warm heart and welcoming home will also continue to bring a smile to her many friends, neighbors and extended family in Frederick and around the world.

Maggi was an active member of the Frederick community, working with the Frederick Tourism Council (as a tour guide), volunteering with the Frederick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (hospital tour guide as well as Select Seconds), inspiring young students as part of Brunswick Elementary Sunshine Readers, along with other volunteer projects at Homewood. She enjoyed playing tennis and golf and was an avid reader. Her previous residence was Clover Hill, Frederick, MD, where she and Fran travelled extensively upon his retirement. Maggi and Fran loved Maryland from the beaches of Ocean City to the green forests and rolling farmland of Garrett County, and they established the tradition of a family gathering at Herrington Manor State Park in Garrett County for over 50 years.

Maggi embraced new technologies and scientific advances her entire life, including into her 90’s. At the age of 91 Maggi was diagnosed with a rare cancer and entered an experimental immunotherapy trial at Johns Hopkins. She was the last person selected in the 50-person cohort, and she was the oldest member. Not only did the trial result in approval of the new treatment, but after 5 years her recovery was so successful Johns Hopkins wrote an article about her experience and the importance of including senior citizens in clinical trials for new medical treatments.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service which will be held September 23, 2023 from 11:00 to 12:00 at Keeney Basford Funeral Home 106 E Church St, Frederick, MD 21701. Please visit www.keeneybasford.com for more details. Streaming info to be posted here the day prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or to the Homewood Benevolent Fund, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD 21702 or to the Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way, Frederick, MD 21701.