Selma Will

Selma Will (nee Prigoditz), age 93, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 21, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Selma was born on January 10, 1928 at Lying-In Hospital in New York City to Peter and Frances Prigoditz. She and her family lived in New York for several years until moving to
Passaic, NJ.  Selma spent her formative years in Passaic attending School #11 and Passaic High School.  Following her graduation from Passaic High School with the class of 1946, Selma enrolled at Packard Junior College in New York City where she earned her Associates Degree.  Selma found work quickly and after a few different positions, accepted an offer as an Administrative Secretary at Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley, NJ where she worked for several years.

While at an engagement party of her friends Virginia Ratzer and Marty Springman, Selma met a handsome young man by the name of Charles Edward Will.  Selma and Charles hit it off great and started dating.  As fate would have it they fell in love and were married on September 1, 1951.  The newlywed couple settled in Clifton then in 1964 moved to Wayne. Shortly after the birth of her first child, Dianne, Selma became a homemaker.  A couple of years later, Selma and Charles welcomed the birth of their second daughter Kathleen.  After their two daughters had grown, Selma went back to work, this time in the banking industry.  Selma worked in the banking industry at several different positions over the next several years until her retirement.  Selma also went back to school and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from William Paterson College in 1986.

Selma was truly dedicated to her Catholic Faith and was a long time parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Wayne for many years.  She was very active in the church and her ministries included The Council of Catholic Women, and the Prayer Shawl Group.  She recited the rosary at the Atrium at Wayne Nursing Home, was a substitute at the Adoration Chapel in church, and sewed baptismal bibs for her church parishioners as well.  Selma volunteered at the Wayne Public Library and also baked and forwarded meatballs to Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson.  After her retirement, Selma became a member of the Golden Agers and Prime Timers of Wayne.        

Selma was quite talented and gifted in crafts and sewing.  Her skills also extended into embroidery, and cross-stitching.  In her retirement, she started her own business called Calico Junction.  Her specialty at Calico Junction was Baptismal Gowns.  Selma would sew, embroider, and create baptismal gowns, often times from wedding gowns sent to her by her clients.  Many of these gowns were passed down by her clients as family heirlooms.  Over the years, Selma attended many craft fairs, showcasing her work.  Her baptismal gowns were shipped to clients all over the country.

Selma enjoyed traveling to various parts of Europe and to Orchard Beach in Maine.  She and her family treasured spending their summers at their vacation home in the Poconos every year. Selma also frequented trips sponsored by Wayne Township to Atlantic City.  Above all, Selma was devoted to her family, she cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She and her husband Charles cherished sixty-five years of loving and loyal marriage until Charles’ passing in June of 2016.  Selma was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by everyone that knew her.

Selma is survived by her two daughters, Dianne Benson and her husband Jon Africano of Wayne, and Kathleen Savacool and her husband Jack Jameson of Anderson, SC, three grandchildren; Courtney Savacool of South Carolina, Michael Savacool of South Carolina, and Patrick Benson of Hewitt, NJ, and three great grandchildren; Emma Savacool, Charlotte Savacool, and Emmett Savacool.  Selma was predeceased by her husband Charles Will in 2016.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Selma’s name may be made to Catholic Charities of Paterson, 777 Valley Rd, Clifton, NJ 07013, http://www.ccpaterson.org