Obituary of Theresa "June" Steele
We lost our mom and best friend the other day. She was the last member of both sides of the family having lived well into her 94th year.
Mom married the love of her life, Bob on June 16, 1951 (predeceased in 1982). From the love of their heart and union they adopted 4 children. Stephen, Eileen, Connie and Gail. Mom fiercely loved all her children. She wasn’t perfect but she loved perfectly. Tragically Stephen died in 1994 and Gail in 2023. Our house wasn’t perfect, we all made mistakes, we all had wounds but beneath it all was love, courage, laughter and strength.
Mom taught us to sing, to dream, to forgive and to love.
Our mom was an incredible woman. Grew up in the depression like so many other children having very little in possessions but the house was always filled with music, song and especially love. As a result, Mom grew up to be an incredible artist and singer.
Mom came from a family that loved deeply, as our grandma and grandpa were the best people any of us could have ever known. Sunday dinners at either their house or our house was always filled with laughter and love. Grandma was legally blind and yet she raised her 4 children with fierce determination. Dr. John Fahey (d. 1965), Jeannette VanderMeiden (d. 2005) (Mom’s twin sister) and Maureen Quebedeaux, (d. 2018). Grandma and Grandpa wanted all their children to be doctors or nurses. Mom, wanted to be married and have children and she did just that.
Mom was the most courageous woman we’ve ever known. She had tragedy after tragedy and yet she continued doing the best she could with love and laughter. She was the strongest person we have ever known. Her courage to face battles no one should have had to endure with such determination, was a quality we will always cherish. She taught us all to never give up, to apologize and to forgive.
At the end, she asked me to never forget her. How could I ever forget the woman who gave me life and raised me to love without question. We will always miss her and yet, we know she will always be with us.
Mom leaves behind to grieve and mourn, daughters Eileen Steele and Connie Smeets (Mike), grandsons Jason & Bob, great grandsons Liam & Miles Smeets. She also leaves her best friend and cherished companion John MacDonald, who we are so grateful for his love and support of our mom and has been our dad all of our adult life. She will be missed by her many nieces and nephews whom she deeply loved.
Following cremation, a graveside service to honour June will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, 8361 Yonge St, Thornhill on Tuesday June 18th at 11am.
