Vanessa Sellers, loving mother, nurse
VANESSA Darnise Hawkins Sellers loved being a nurse, but she loved being a mother more. Her daughter, Maya Simone Sellers, was "the center of her existence," her family said. "If asked about her greatest achievement, Vanessa would undoubtedly say, 'Being Maya's mommy.' Wherever you saw Vanessa, Maya was never far behind."
VANESSA Darnise Hawkins Sellers loved being a nurse, but she loved being a mother more.
Her daughter, Maya Simone Sellers, was "the center of her existence," her family said. "If asked about her greatest achievement, Vanessa would undoubtedly say, 'Being Maya's mommy.' Wherever you saw Vanessa, Maya was never far behind."
Vanessa Sellers, a critical-care nurse at Albert Einstein Medical Center who later worked at Christiana Hospital, in Delaware, died Friday of a heart condition. She was 34 and lived in New Castle, Del.
She was born in Philadelphia to Charles and Bettye Hawkins. She attended Lincoln University and graduated from the Frankford Hospital School of Nursing in 1999.
Shortly after graduation, she passed her nursing examination and became a registered nurse. At her death, she was studying at Immaculata University to become a nurse anesthetist.
Vanessa worked for 10 years at Einstein in the cardiac-care unit and catheterization lab. In 2003, she was honored as Nurse of the Year for the Tenet Health System, comprising nurses from 15 area hospitals.
After moving to Delaware in 2009, Vanessa joined the staff of Christiana Hospital's electrophysiology lab, where she assisted in the treatment of irregular heart rhythms.
"Though there for only a short time, she was a committed, compassionate and devoted patient advocate," her family said. "Vanessa was always kind and went out of her way to make her patients and their families feel comfortable. Vanessa was a pleasure to work with. She always had a positive attitude and a smile on her face."
Vanessa was a member of the L'Ecole Des Jouettes Dance Company for 16 years. She also enjoyed basketball, swimming, traveling and reading. Her favorite author was Tananarive Due, an African-American writer of supernatural novels. In May 1995, Vanessa met Joseph "Jay" Sellers. They later married and had Maya.
She also is survived by a stepdaughter, LaShawna; three sisters, Phyllis, Vinina and Beth; and brothers Chucky and Daru.
Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Oxford Presbyterian Church, Stenton and Gowen avenues.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be private.