Winifred W. Steckmest

CARROLLTON - Winifred White Steckmest, 91, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2008, in her home surrounded by her loving family members. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren A. Steckmest; her brother, Alan B. White; and a nephew, Robert White.
Winnie was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 19, 1916, to Gerald H. and Grace Buck White. At a young age, she and her family moved to Valley Stream, Long Island, in New York State. Winnie attended Valley Stream Central High School and was elected secretary of her senior class. Upon graduation in 1934, she attended secretarial school and was then employed by the Silver Burdett Publishing Co. in New York City.
Winnie and Warren were married in the Valley Stream Grace Methodist Church on Sept. 13, 1941. In 1954, they moved their family to Malverne, Long Island, where both Winnie and Warren were very active in scouting and various hiking groups. Winnie also worked as secretary for the Valley Stream school district's adult education program. In 1977, Winnie and Warren retired to Rumney, N.H., where they thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed rural lifestyle of northern New England. Preservation of nature and environmental issues were very important to Winnie, and she and Warren were extremely active in local groups that supported these issues. Upon Warren's death in 1998, Winnie moved from New Hampshire to Connecticut to live with her daughter, Warrene, and son-in-law, Bob. In 2006, they moved to Virginia where Winnie spent the last years of her life.
Winnie is survived by her three daughters, Warrene B. Santucci and husband, Bob, of Carrollton, Va., Deborah E. Lieberman and husband, Bruce, of Sandia Park, N.M., and Nancy A. Lanza and husband, Frank, of Sheldon, Vt. She also leaves one brother, Gerald 'Bud' White; eight grandchildren, Lynn Haburjak, Tina Weiler, Katie Storrs and her husband, Matt, Colin Lieberman and his fiancEe, Alison Ray, Lindsey Lieberman, Adrian Lanza, Amelia Lanza and Ben Lanza; two great-grandchildren, Lauren Haburjak and Hunter Storrs; one nephew, Dale White and his wife, Linda Staiger-White; and one niece, Beth White.
Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, is handling arrangements.
www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com