July 24, 1926 – May 21, 2026
On May 21, 2026, Margaret Kathleen Steel of The Moncton Residence, New Brunswick, passed away peacefully in her 100th year, at the age of 99 years and 10 months.
Born July 24, 1926, in New Westminster, BC, she was the firstborn child of Frederick A. H. Devinney and Emma Clarkson Devinney (nee Steeves).
At the age of 7, in the midst of the Great Depression, Margaret, along with her parents and two younger sisters, moved from BC to Stoney Creek, New Brunswick. This trip across Canada and the US with all their belongings strapped to the Baby Austin became the stuff of family legends.
Margaret lived through the depression and war time; both instilled a respect for frugality and family values. She grew into adulthood surrounded by the hills and valleys, rivers and marshes of Albert County, places her heart held dear. Margaret developed a love of reading and of gardening, especially poppies, peas and strawberries. A country girl growing up under dark night skies, she cultivated knowledge about stars, planets, constellations and the moon. After graduating top of her class from Hillsborough High School, she studied at Robinson’s Business College.
Early work life included secretarial and bookkeeping positions at several accounting firms and law offices. At Ross, Frewin, Reevey, she met her husband Winton G. Steel of Saint John. They married and had five children.
Times were tough, economically and emotionally and Winton was unable to cope. They separated and Margaret moved home to live with her parents bringing her five children. Emma and Fred helped her raise her children and Margaret, in turn cared for her parents in their old age.
She used her considerable will and intelligence to bring up her children and modelled for them a hunger for learning and respect for family. Once her children were no longer babies, she worked full time, finally retiring at 65 from the law firm of Stewart and Cooper, where she was a valued staff member for 23 years.
Margaret was a member and Treasurer of the Hillsborough United Church and the United Church Women. She was a member of the Albert County Historical Society and volunteered as parent-helper at her grandchildren’s schools, and as a bookkeeper for Canadian Mental Health Association’s Daisy fundraising campaign.
In her later years, a series of falls and related health complications led to a decline in her memory and independence. Though this was difficult for her, and for those who loved her, her family will always remember the strong, vibrant and determined woman she was for so much of her long and remarkable life.
Margaret was predeceased by her youngest child, her only son, Rick Steel in 1982, by both her parents in 1988 and more recently by her beloved sisters Beth MacBeath and Isabel Jones and their husbands, Ian and John. She was predeceased by her sisters-in-law Mary Kay Steel, Yvonne Steel and Mary Steel, by her brothers-in-law, Bill Steel and Geoffrey Steel, her husband Winton Steel.
She is survived by her daughters, Carol Steel (Gary LeBlanc), Wendy Steel, Susan Devinney, Linda Banks (Ken Banks). Margaret will be remembered with love by her grandchildren Melanie Bond (Kelly Bond), Melissa Steeves (Tim Christ), Sionne Roberts (Natasha Roberts), Aaron Roberts, Kyla Devinney (Bryon Lavallee), Emma Carr (Jeff Carr) and Mariah Devinney.
Margaret was a loving Nanny to 14 great grandchildren, Zara (Andrew), Kaleb, Milo, Eliot, Ruby, Ava, Owen, Phoenix, Nadia, Danika, Kole, Zayden, Calix and Sylas and a doting great-great grandmother to Sadie, Poet and Quinn. She leaves behind many cousins and nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered for her resilience, independence, devotion to family, for the love and determination with which she lived her life.
Margaret and her family thank the staff at The Moncton Residence for three years of care and support and express gratitude to the staff and volunteers of Maison Albert House for their caring comfort during her last hours. A special thank you to Dr. Brian Davidson for years of compassion and great care.
At Margaret’s request, there will be no funeral. Family arrangements will be private with an informal celebration of life held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Fergusons Funeral Home & Fergusons Crematorium, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton (506-858-1995).
Donations in memory of Margaret may be made to the Hillsborough United Church, Maison Albert House or a charity of your choice.
