TONAWANDA, N.Y.

— Selene Ax Wilson-Machuga peacefully transitioned to her eternal heavenly life Wednesday (April 30, 2025) at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Selene was born April 15, 1954, in Philadelphia.

She was a daughter of Sabena (Gramm) Wilson and Richard Wilson, both deceased, and was sister to Sabena Norman. Selene married Jim Machuga on Dec. 27, 2002.

Selene was a talented, humble and patient woman who cared for everyone, especially children. She was passionate about reading, nature, hiking, gardening, Deer Springs homestead, cooking, cats, and chickens (especially Phyllis). Selene was an incredibly loving, supportive wife and soulmate of 22 years.

In her youth, Selene enjoyed her time at the beach, exploring nature, playing with her friends and living what she called an incredible childhood.

She graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a degree in social work.

As an adult Selene served as a teacher- naturalist with the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute among other places for many years. She taught middle school science for 15 years at Germantown Friends School. Selene served as a store manager with World of Science for six years, sharing her love of science and nature with children and adults.

Upon moving to Bradford, Pa., in 2002, Selene was the first Grace Lutheran Church Community Life Center coordinator and served for 19 years, retiring in 2022. There she encouraged and mentored hundreds, even thousands, of young people. She always enjoyed listening to the youth talk about how their day was going, coloring or playing a game of UNO or Four Square with them, coordinating the annual Trunk or Treat events, or participating in one of the many other activities happening at the center. However, most importantly she enjoyed sharing the love of Christ with the youth through prayer, Bible studies and the Community Crosswalk Youth Worship Service. Selene was also closely involved with numerous programs helping to revitalize the community. She was a strong supporter of Canticle Farms for about 20 years.

In 2011 she co-founded Bradford Nature Co., bringing educational products to the Bradford area.

Selene’s New Life Celebration Service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at New Life Fellowship Church, 50 Sullivan Road, Bradford, where we will celebrate her earthly life and imagine what she is now experiencing in her eternal heavenly life. Fellowship time begins at 11 a.m. and the service will follow at noon. More fellowship and refreshments afterward. The service will be broadcast live on the New Life Fellowship Church Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, given her love of children, memorials can be sent to Grace Lutheran Church, 79 Mechanic St., Bradford, PA 16701, c/o Community Life Center, or call (814) 362-1236 to continue the work she started years ago; Bradford Area Christian Academy (BACA), 25 Chambers St., Bradford, PA 16701, c/o the Building Fund to help grow the school or c/o the Machuga Scholarship Fund to help parents with the cost of tuition (ask about the EITC Children’s Scholarship Program), or call (814) 368-6800; New Life Fellowship Church, 50 Sullivan Road, Bradford, PA 16701, c/o the Youth Program, or call (814) 368-3605 to help children learn about Christ; or a church or charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences can be expressed at amigone. com.