Obituary of Beatrice Steckley

To view a livestream of the service, please click HERE.

Bea passed away peacefully at the Village of Winston Park on Friday, March 20, 2026, the first day of spring, in her 96th year.

Born June 9, 1930, in Vineland, ON, Bea was a daughter of the late Aaron Hallman and the former Anna Fretz. Beloved wife of Roy Steckley (2018) with whom she celebrated 66 years of marriage. Caring mother of Jeff and Jan Steckley, Kim Cocks, Kris and Gary Schapansky and Phil Steckley. Adored grandma and great-grandma to Dan and Jill Steckley (Oaklynn and Violet), Dean and Phoebe Steckley (Lena, Jonah and Niah), Zach and Beth Steckley (Arthur and Elsie), Jason Cocks and Krystal Vieira (Lola and Cami Cocks), Aaron and Dani Cocks (Lochie and Iver), Abbie and Mike Kitchen (Greysen and Hudson), Jake Schapansky, Leah Schapansky, Simon and Sarah Steckley (Roy) and Rebekah Steckley. Fondly remembered by her sisters-in-law Kit Hallman, Patricia Jantzi (Melvin) and Elizabeth Gerber as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Also remembered by Scott Cocks. Predeceased by her sister, Eileen Snyder (Ralph), brother Willis Hallman, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bill and Merrill Steckley, Pauline and John Gerber. 

Bea was raised in Vineland and lived on the Fretz family fruit farm. She especially enjoyed the summers when the hired girls from Kitchener would come to pick fruit. In her early teens she headed to Rockway Mennonite School and while there, at the age of 14, she met her beloved Roy. They married on July 3,1952, and settled in Preston where Roy was teaching and eventually became a school principal. Together they raised their four children with Bea always keeping the home clean, creating delicious home cooked meals and making it a home that always felt welcoming to her family, and all those who came to visit. Her gift of hospitality shone brightly in her home and in her community. She was an active member of Preston Mennonite Church where she volunteered her time on numerous committees and offered beauty in her creative flower arrangements. Bea was a part of the Garden Club as well as a leader in coordinating fundraising for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Cambridge for many years. All of Bea’s community involvements naturally added more dear friends to her life. She perfected the art of connecting people and gathering them together. It would be true to say that Bea “never met a stranger.”

Her family was always her pride and joy, and she especially loved a gathering. She spent all of her summers at the family cottage at Chesley Lake. Bea loved her cottage friends and especially loved making memories with all the grandchildren there for VBS. 

She was a doer and always busy. In her final years, as her physical limitations challenged that, she managed to keep making new friends. This was evident by the love her PSWs and the staff at The Village of Winston Park bestowed upon her in her final days. 

As a family we are forever grateful for each person from Winston Park who treated mom with dignity, kindness and love. 

To remember Bea would be to watch a beautiful sunset, light a candle while eating dinner, phone a friend and catch up, enjoy some old cheddar cheese, plan a gathering to bring people together, go for a long walk, or enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake.

Friends are invited to share their memories of Bea with her family at the Preston Mennonite Church, 791 Concession Rd., Cambridge, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 3:30-6:00 p.m. A service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will be held at Preston Mennonite Church on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Harold Schlegel officiating. Reception to follow. 

Cremation has taken place. Interment at Mannheim Mennonite Church Cemetery at a later date.

A livestream and recording of the service will be available on Bea’s tribute page at www.erbgood.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Chesley Lake Camp's Hallman Chapel VBS Program may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at 519-745-8445 or at www.erbgood.com.