Obituary, Ruth M. Steeley

Ruth M. Steeley, 92, a resident of The Fountains in Millbrook, NY passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

The daughter of Frank Yasohachi Morita of Kumamoto, Japan and Frances Maria Brineck, of Austria, she was born in the Bronx on April 29, 1930. She was a graduate of the Walton High School class of 1948 and completed secretarial training at the Spencer School in 1949.  She worked as a Telephone Operator with New York Telephone in the early 50’s before transitioning to an administrative role at a Madison Avenue advertising firm.  She married Joseph Steeley in 1960.

Ruth lived in Patterson, NY for 30 years with her family, where she loved playing tennis and swimming at nearby Holiday Hills in Pawling. She and her husband Joe retired to Poughquag, NY where they lived for 25 years.  Her retirement years were spent indulging in her love of books by volunteering at the Beekman Library and reading to pre-school children at the Beekman parks Reading Room.  She maintained her active lifestyle, bowling with a senior league at Fishkill Bowl and taking summer Aquarobics classes.  She moved to independent senior living at The Fountains in 2018 where she enjoyed playing Bridge and Canasta, attending concerts and shows and dining with her friends, but her greatest joy came from spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her two sons, Joseph A. Steeley, III of Dover Plains, NY and Christopher J. Steeley of Worcester, NY; her two daughters, Linda S. Akin of Patterson, NY and Jill Steeley of Beacon, NY; six grandchildren, David Akin III, Matthew Akin, and Andrew Akin and Michael Steeley, Lisa Steeley, and Kimberly Steeley; and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her brother and sisters, Rudi Hoffman, Anna Bresiger, Mary McBride (nee Bresiger), Gertrude Bresiger, Frances Grilli (nee Morita), and Viola Stefanacci (nee Morita).

Family and friends may pay their respects at the Horn & Thomes, Inc Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY,  Sunday, September 25th from 2-6 PM.  A service will be conducted at the funeral home at 5:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Ruth may be made to the Innisfree Garden Foundation, PO Box 970, Millbrook, NY 12545 or on-line at innisfreegarden.org.

Author: Harlem Valley News