Veronica "Vicki" Antoinette Seitz (nee Mallamas), 80, passed away at Crozer Hospital in Upland, Delaware County, PA, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, after giving it all she had in a battle with her second bout of cancer.

Vicki was born in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, on October 20, 1942, to Antonio "Tony" Vincenzo Mallamas and Teresa Mallamas (nee Rao). On her father's side, Vicki was the granddaughter of Paolo Mallamaci (name changed in America to Paul Mallamas) and Evelyn Mallamas (nee Pavilie). Paolo immigrated to America in 1903 from Calabria, Italy, and Evelyn immigrated to America from England. On her mother's side, Vicki was the granddaughter of Agostino Rao (name changed in America to Augustine Ross, then changed back to Agostino Rao) and Virginia Rao (nee Olah; aka Veronka Olah). Agostino immigrated to America from Calabria, Italy, in 1909, and Virginia immigrated to America from Hungary in 1910.

When Vicki was a young girl, her family left the West Virginia coal mines, and moved to Chester, Delaware County, PA, where her father was hired by Scott Paper. They stayed in Chester a few years, and then moved to Folcroft. Vicki graduated from Sharon Hill High School in 1960, and won the award for "Best Dancer" in her high school yearbook. Vicki was known for tearing up the dance floor, and she won several contests. Everyone wanted to be Vicki's partner at the local town dances.

Vicki was a self taught artist. She enjoyed painting wildlife in both oil, acrylic, and in pastel medium, and later, in colored pencil. She also had a niche at solving cryptograms and other word problems. Vicki was quite eccentric, and had her house decorated with gargoyles and other very unique items. She had quite the eye for all that is different. She loved to wear bright, bold colors, and wild earrings. She loved bold colors so much that when she was a young woman, her parents bought her a hot pink 1959 Studebaker Hawk, and that car was her baby. Even in her later years, she often reminisced about that car.

Vicki was married for a brief period to her first husband, the late Robert Thomas Dobson, but had no children with him. Later on, Vicki met the love of her life, William "Bill" Vernell Seitz, and they decided to get married after their first date. Bill was the son of Edward and Helen Seitz (nee Headley). Vicki and Bill got married on July 4, 1970, in Folcroft, Delaware County, PA, by a Justice of the Peace. Bill was previously married to the late Susan Ryan.

Not too long after marriage, Bill developed Multiple Sclerosis and Vicki became his caregiver. She selflessly cared for Bill, and never once complained. When Bill was still able to get around with a cane, they would stake out the local yard sales, and have fun finding many odds and ends. They traveled all over, and found some very interesting items.

Vicki worked at Pike Cold Cuts on Chester Pike, and she had a loyal customer following. Due to her meticulous nature, she was known to slice the best and thinnest lunch meat, and people would wait in line longer, just so she could be the one to slice their deli items. The job was perfect as it was close to home, and allowed her to be flexible and take care of her family.

Vicki was thoughtful and loved to write little poems with catchy sayings for her grandchildren. Two years prior to the date of her death, Vicki wrote a letter to her granddaughter on February 2, 2021, and in that letter, she wrote, "...I want you to think on being a willow, not a stick. Sticks snap and break and fall on the ground, a broken shadow of what it once was. A willow sways and bends no matter how the strong winds of reality buffet it and try to blow it over. A willow concentrates on staying firmly grounded in a strong root system. So, be a "willow," not a "stick." We can all learn to be a willow, and not a stick, by following Vicki's loving advice.

Vicki enjoyed gardening and working on her yard. She loved to decorate her yard with gargoyles, dragons, and garden gazing witch's balls. Years ago, she hung a garden rock face on her backyard tree, and the tree grew around it. It is still there, to this day. Everyone that sees it gets a real kick out of the rock face poking out of the tree bark. She also enjoyed feeding the birds out back.

Vicki was a loving mother, stepmother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and is greatly missed by all. Vicki is survived by her children Carla Welsh (Brian) of Springfield, William Seitz (Rebecca) of Glenolden, and stepdaughter Jeanette Jenkins (Tom) of Kirkwood. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Michael Welsh, Katelyn Welsh, Bodhi Seitz, Ryker Seitz, Scarlotte Seitz, and Samuel Jenkins. She is also survived by her sister Evelyn Nelson (Olie) of New Jersey, and her niece Vicki Orobono (Joe) of New Jersey. Vicki was predeceased by her loving husband, Bill, and her parents, Tony and Teresa, and her niece, Gina Nelson.

So, next time you see a willow tree, please remember Vicki, and just how special of a person she was!!!

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday February 10, 2023 at the White-Luttrell Funeral Home, 311 N. Swarthmore Ave., Ridley Park where relatives and friends my call after 9:30 AM.  Burial in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill.

Donations can be made in her memory to The American Cancer Society, or to ACCT Philly, as Vicki had a special place in her heart for all animals, especially cats.