Theophilia Steckowski, a longtime resident of Southampton, died On August 30, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was 91.
Born July 8, 1928, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Paul and Mary Baclawski, she was raised with two siblings, both now deceased, Helen, and Joseph, who died while training for the U.S. Army.
Originally from Connecticut, she moved to Hayground, Tuckahoe and then to Southampton, where she graduated from Southampton High School and then raised her family. Her final home was built by her son, Michael, in Noyac in 1987. She worked at Southampton Hospital for 36 years. At age 70 she completed a course, becoming certified in her job, for which she was extremely proud.
She was an avid reader, gardener, canner, baker and cook of her ethnic Polish dishes. She is survived by her five children, Patricia DePetris of Bay Shore, Carol Begg of Southampton, Diane and husband Laurance Gay of East Quogue, Donna and husband Randy Riess of Southampton, and Michael and wife Jennifer Steckowski of Sag Harbor. She is also survived by six grandchildren, David, Lindsay, Steven, Ryan, Shaun and Pierce; and three great-grandchildren, David III, Danielle and Michael.
Visiting was at O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home and a private memorial will follow at a future date at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Cemetery in Southampton.