Elizabeth S. Seiling didn't let age stop her from achieving her dreams.

The mother of three children, Mrs. Seiling opted to become a licensed practical nurse when she was in her 50s.

"She always wanted to be a nurse," said her daughter, Donna Seiling, of Shaler. "She was always interested in it."

And Mrs. Seiling had the determination to see it through. After all, a card club meeting to play the game 500, which she started in 1939, continues to meet today, nearly 70 years later. She played until she became ill this year.

Mrs. Seiling, of Shaler, died Monday from liver failure. She was 87.

During World War II, Mrs. Seiling worked for Bell Telephone. In 1946, she married William Seiling and started a family. From that point on, Mrs. Seiling devoted her time to her family as a stay-at-home mom to the couple's three children.

It wasn't until the late 1960s that she expressed an interest in returning to school to obtain LPN certification.

At that time, she had been caring for her mother with the help of visiting nurses.

"The home care nurses used to tell my mom she should go into nursing, that she would be very good at it," Ms. Seiling said.

Mrs. Seiling later took care of her husband, who suffered a heart attack.

Between those two experiences, she was determined to earn a nursing degree.

So in 1973, Mrs. Seiling enrolled in the former Connelley Skill Learning Center in the Hill District. At the time, her daughter, Donna, also was enrolled at the school, studying nursing.

"We went to the same school, but we had different classes," she said. "I graduated the year before her."

Mrs. Seiling graduated from the program in 1974 at the age of 52. She went on to work for several nursing agencies before joining the Regency Nursing Home. She also worked for St. John General Hospital on the North Side. She retired in 1984.

Ms. Seiling said her mom has served as an inspiration to her and her siblings.

"It was amazing that someone her age could go back to school," she said. "And nursing isn't easy. But she did it."

But it wasn't Mrs. Seiling's only passion.

The card club, started with one of her friends, Ida Cannon, currently has eight members and at one time, had three sets of mothers and daughters who played, including Mrs. Seiling and her daughter, Donna. Mrs. Cannon, of West Deer, is still a member.

"All those years, they kept it going," said Ms. Seiling. "People would come and go, some died. But it's still in existence today."

Ms. Seiling said she and her mother had not participated in the club this year due to her mother's declining health.

Mrs. Seiling also enjoyed playing the slots. She visited gaming facilities in Toronto, Las Vegas and Wheeling, W.Va. She also collected dolls.

In addition to Ms. Seiling, Mrs. Seiling is also survived by daughter Charleen Gombert, of Lutz, Fla.; and son, Ronald Seiling, of Shaler; a granddaughter, Emma Gombert of Lutz, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and siblings.

Services for Mrs. Seiling are being held today at the Heard Funeral Home, Observatory Hill.