Juanita Steinman

Juanita Steinman, of Rochester, NY, died in hospice care at St. John's Home of Rochester, NY on October 31, 2025. She battled Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for several years and ultimately passed due to long term after-effects of cancer treatments. She is no longer suffering.

Juanita was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, to Bernice Krogol (born Grelock) and Walter Krogol. She lived a full life, born proudly from a joyful and loving Polish family. Juanita grew up surrounded by friends and family, riding her bike around her neighborhood in the summertime and around the ice rink on speed skates in the wintertime. Her first job as a teenager was at Woolworth's dime store, where she unexpectedly got to play Christmas songs in the display window on a baby grand piano. In 1964, at age 18 she started working for American Airlines as a ticket agent, which brought her around the country and the world for the rest of her life. She worked for American Airlines for over 38 years! Juanita met her husband, Ron, at the pool in the apartment complex in Rochester where they both lived at the time. Ron asked Juanita if she wanted to buy a car, she cooly responded "no," but they both ended up at the pool the next day looking for each other, and the rest is history. Ron and Juanita were married for 51 years, and Ron says that Juanita is "the best thing that ever happened to me." Juanita's family, friends, and American Airlines colleagues all agree that Juanita was loving and giving, and the life of the party. She took an endless number of photos and always had a camera with her. She loved to celebrate birthdays and holidays, especially Halloween. It is fitting that that she passed away the morning of October 31, 2025. It will be an honor to celebrate her each year with joy, laughter, and shenanigans.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, David Krogol. Juanita is survived by her devoted husband (Ronald Steinman), daughters (Laura Evonne Steinman {Reed} and Leigh Alexandra Kirby), and beloved grandchildren (Ezra Walden Kirby and Leona Malcolm Kirby). Juanita is also survived by several close relatives on Ronald's side of the family: Ron's aunt Joanne Binder, cousin Chip {Dorene}, sister Sandra Levine {David}, brother-in-law Robert Seligman, nephew Craig Levine {Phoebe}, nieces Ilyse Levine {David}, Danielle Levine, Norrie Feinblatt {Jeff}, Kira Brooks {Katy}, and several wonderful grandnieces and grandnephews. Juanita's long distance surviving Polish blood relatives are forever loved and treasured.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 S. Winton Road, Rochester, NY 14610 at 2:30pm on Saturday, November 8 th 2025, with a reception to follow. Formal attire not necessary. Colorful attire requested by Juanita. She specified, "unless black is your color."
The service will be recorded and available upon request from First Unitarian Church: 585-271-9070 email: office@rochesterunitarian.org

In lieu of flowers Juanita asked that family and friends make a donation to an organization that is meaningful to them.