Peter Joseph Seaton, a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away tragically at the young age of 25 on June 23rd, 2023 in Wichita, KS. His untimely death was due to a struggle with addiction, a battle he had fought for many years. Although the loss is overwhelming, his legacy of love, faith, and joy remains with those who knew him.

Born with an infectious spirit, Peter had a unique gift of connecting with everyone he met. His life was filled with an abundance of laughter, adventurous tales, and heartfelt relationships. He truly lived by the sentiment that he "never met a stranger," and his ability to build meaningful connections with others was a testament to his kindheartedness. He especially enjoyed spending time at family reunions with his cousins.

Peter was a devout Catholic, whose faith was deeply woven into the fabric of his being. His commitment to the teachings of the Church and his devotion to Our Lady and St. Joseph was an inspiration to all who knew him. As a youth Peter served mass at his parish, Church of the Incarnation, in Rio Rancho, NM. He was also known to randomly show up to serve mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Rio Rancho.

Peter spent some time at Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma before entering Community Cenacolo in April of 2017. He loved the monks and was anxious to visit them whenever the opportunity arose. The time he spent there was a balm to his soul.

Peter’s walk at Community Cenacolo provided time to deepen his love for the rosary and contemplate the passion, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While there, he developed a love for woodworking. He handmade many rosaries and other gifts for family and friends. Within the community, he became a teacher and encouraged others on their spiritual journey. A highlight of his time at Cenacolo was when he portrayed Simon of Cyrene during Holy Week in 2019.

Outside community, Peter also loved individualized sports. He was a wrestler, a gymnast, an equestrian, and loved to ski, rollerblade, and swim. Peter was fearless and loved taking risks.

Peter shared a special bond with his maternal grandmother Patricia Watkins. During his childhood, they traveled together to Ecuador, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Aspen among other destinations.

During the last weeks of his life, Peter worked at Chester’s Chophouse, in Wichita, KS. He tended the bar and waited on tables. Peter always loved a party and a banquet. We hope and pray that his eternal reward will be a Heavenly Feast.

Peter was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents; Lt. Col. Pete Seaton, and Nancy Cunningham Seaton, and maternal grandparents; Dr. Dan. H and Patricia A. Watkins.

Peter is survived by his parents, Gary and Bettina Seaton; sisters: Grace (Simon) Patton, all of Wichita, KS, Emily (Sam) Sharpe of Kansas City, MO, Sarah Seaton of Atchison, KS; brothers: Daniel Seaton of Alexandria,VA, Paul (Annie) Seaton, Andrew (Kathleen) Seaton, both of Wichita; nieces: Julia Patton, Phoebe Patton, Iris Patton, Felicity Sharpe, Hannah Sharpe, Faustine Seaton, Genevieve Seaton, and Edith Seaton; nephews: Sebastian Patton, Theodore Patton, Bosco Patton, Abraham Patton, Clement Patton, Felix Patton, Damien Seaton, and Phineas Seaton. 

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Eulogy by Paul Seaton 

(eulogy by Andrew follows below)

Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Good evening. On behalf of my entire family, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for your presence with us this weekend. Your love, prayers and shared memories of our dearly departed Peter serve as a great comfort during this time of sorrow.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Paul Seaton, and I am Peter’s older brother by 4 years. I am the oldest of the younger Seaton sibling crew, and was fortunate to be a part of many of the fond memories we have of Peter growing up. Throughout our childhood and up until his very last days, Peter lived out a few virtues I’d like to share with you tonight.

First, Peter was the ultimate encourager. During many of our car rides around Albuquerque, Peter would give me an empathetic, listening ear about my latest high school heartbreak or sports struggle. Sometimes not knowing what to say, Peter would turn to me and say, “Paul, has anyone told you lately that you're awesome?”

Peter would also accompany me and our brother Andrew to the gym before a big basketball game or just to shoot around. He’d often start to rebound for us without asking and give an affirming word anytime I missed a shot. When someone else would walk into the gym, it was not uncommon for Peter to run up to them and introduce himself, and then proceed to brag about his older brothers to whomever he’d just met.

There are countless examples like this where Peter showed how proud he was to be a Seaton and to be my brother. He would make that known every chance he had.

Second, Peter was fearless. My brothers and I spent nearly every day during the summer at skate parks, and Peter would always be the first one to try a daring new trick that one of us was thinking about doing.

My family would go skiing every winter in Colorado, and one time, Peter jumped right off the chair lift and took off straight down the mountain. Peter was never one to hesitate or doubt himself; whatever life threw his way, he would just go for it.

Last but not least, much like his patron, Peter was an evangelist. He had a genuine concern about the eternal fate of souls. Peter loved his Catholic faith and was unafraid to talk about it with whoever, whenever, wherever. I have received an outpouring of notes from strangers over the last few days telling me how thankful they are for the handmade Rosary Peter made them.

It was not uncommon for Peter to attend 630am daily mass with my mom while my other siblings and I slept in. I remember one time, Peter needed a ride to confession. As I was reluctant to take him, Peter said to me, “Paul, I may not be able to read your soul just yet, but you need to go to confession, too.”

Peter, if you hear me, know that I miss you deeply. Know that I forgive you for everything, and I pray that you can forgive me for all the times that I fell short as your brother. Thank you for all that you were and will continue to be for me.

When I’m suffering from self-doubt and need an affirming word, encourage me.

When I’m feeling daunted by life’s challenges, help me to be unafraid as you were.

When I’m timid and lacking in faith, pray for me and help me to spread the Good News of the Gospel as bravely as you did.

Not a day will go by that I won’t think about you, Peter. Help me to carry your encouragement, fearlessness, and spirit of faith with me always. I love you very much.

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Eulogy by Andrew Seaton

God tells us in Revelation Chapter 21: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”

For those who may not know me, I am Andrew Seaton – Peter’s older brother, the fifth of the seven siblings. On behalf of my family, thank you for being here with us to grieve, remember, and celebrate the life of Peter Joseph – son, brother, uncle, and stranger to none. The outpouring of love that our family has been the beneficiary of this week is overwhelming. The Masses, prayers and thoughtful messages Peter and our family have been offered are a great comfort to us all this week.

But there is a cloudiness to this all isn’t there? Peter’s untimely death is a tragedy and a shock. In this time, we are faced with two scandals: the scandal of Peter’s tragic death due to overdose and the scandal of Christ’s death on the cross. Both are horrible. However, one is a problem, and the other is the solution.

Peter exemplified the cowboy virtues of courage, toughness, and grit. Peter was the most fearless boy I ever met. In childhood he would always be the first to take on a new challenge: jumping off the roof into the pool (sorry Dad), going down a ten-foot ramp on his skateboard, trying a new ramp that was too big for his 50cc dirt-bike or bombing a new hill on his longboard. Even if the risk he took didn’t pay off, he’d dust himself off, try again and be sure to call those watching out for not being willing to immediate give it a try after witnessing his successful or failed attempt.

When Peter got determined to do something, he would strap on his determined face (looked something like this) and go for it!

Peter never met a stranger and wherever life took him, he made friends. Peter’s search for true communion took him many places: Albuquerque, Wichita, Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, Community Cenacolo in Florida, Alabama and Peru. Peter’s life was rich with friendship and one thing we know for certain about his life is that he was rarely alone. The number of messages we have all received from friends we knew and didn’t know about has been a testament to how far-reaching Peter’s life was.

Peter was an industrious worker. During his time at Cenacolo, he helped build a new chapel and bunkhouses for the men and worked with wood to create his loved one’s handmade rosaries, cutting boards and toys. The same week Peter got out of Community; he landed a job putting siding on houses here in Wichita. He eventually found a passion for serving tables and facilitating the ultimate dining experience for his customers. His customers would often become friends and request that the next time they came in, Peter wait on them.

There was rarely a time that I spoke to Peter where he didn’t want to discuss childhood memories and ask how each sibling, niece and nephew was doing. Peter was proud to be a Seaton. And though through addiction, barriers and boundaries were constructed, he loved his family more than anything.

Peter was the sixth of seven siblings. In our childhood, Peter would often come inside exasperated with hands above his head to tell our parents that he had been wronged by one of his siblings “for no apparent reason”!

Peter had a profound relationship with Christ and a deep reverence and devotion to Our Lady and St. Joseph. He fostered this love from a young age as an alter server. In one of my most fond memories of Peter, after three years of tying Peter’s cincture (the rope around the waist of our alter server outfits), Paul and I finally decided we were done helping him tie it. We warned him that this was the last time we would be illustrating how to tie it for him, and he agreed that he would pay attention and learn how to tie it properly. Of course, the next time we served, Peter was processing in in front of Father and halfway to the front of the Church, the cincture became untied. He proceeded to carry the candle with one arm, hold the cincture and garb up with the other and shuffle his way the remainder of the way. The whole church was giggling at Peter but he took it in stride and acted as if nothing was wrong. Not much fazed Peter.

During his time at Cenacolo, Peter would work long arduous days of manual labor, serve his brothers in Community, pray three rosaries a day and still find time for further prayer. Peter’s dear friend in Community, James, shared that Peter challenged them both to pray a fourth rosary together after the other men had emptied the chapel. James credits Peter for getting him through his time in Community.

An honest and clear-eyed account of Peter’s life would not omit that Peter and the demons of addiction he so earnestly faced caused heartache and grief for those that loved him most. His battle with addiction was long and arduous.

As those who have a loved one suffering through addiction know, relationships become strained, motives are questioned, trust is difficult to foster, and heartache is around the corner at any moment. He fought the demons of addiction hard. He sought, as we all do, to be at peace – to be happy – to be free – and to be loved. We are left wondering why the Lord allowed Peter to bear such a brutal cross during his life, but we trust God’s will, his goodness and mercy always.

Community Cenacolo, a safe refuge for souls like Peter’s, a place that we all believe saved Peter’s life many times over, has the moto: “From the darkness to the light.” Because of the gruesome, brutal cross that Christ bore for us, we can hope that Peter is finally at peace, happy, free, and loved in the way he desired while on Earth. We can hope, with good reason, that Peter is on his final journey out of the darkness and into the light of Christ.

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