Florence Winifred Hutson Steager, 93, formerly of Emmaus, PA, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 6, 2016 in Mullica Hill, NJ.
Born (11/14/22) and raised in London, England, she survived the Blitz of London in her late teens, and entered into service with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1941, eventually achieving the rank of Corporal. It was during her military service that she met Sgt. Edward Allen Steager of Bethlehem, PA, of the US Army First Division Infantry. They were married in London in December 1944, and for 66 years until his death in 2011.
Florence Steager's life of service in both her native and adoptive countries and to her fellow human beings is an inspiration to her descendants and to all those whose life she impacted. A devoted wife and mother, she was also a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother, school bus driver for handicapped children, host to fresh air children and foreign students, and a Sunday School teacher. Florence became a certified Braillist and made many school textbooks for visually-impaired students, in addition to training other Braillists at national conferences in computerized brailling. She taught reading to prison inmates, and ESL to recent immigrants.
A competitive swimmer in her early years, and always physically active, after watching her children play competitively for years, Florence took up tennis with a practice and passion that didn’t diminish until her late eighties. After honing her own game, and passing on what she’d learned to grandchildren, she started offering lessons on her home court to others. She also bowled weekly until age 88, and practiced Tai Chi and yoga. She was an avid reader and a dedicated (and frustrated) student of the piano.
Florence loved nature in all forms. A bird watcher and gardener, she was known for creating colorful flower gardens and bountiful vegetable gardens wherever she lived, even in the rocky soil of South Mountain. She shared her love of nature with her children and grandchildren and many others through scouting, her home gardens, and nature center volunteer work.
Having studied needlework in school, she was accomplished at sewing, knitting, embroidery, and later in life, quilting.
Survivors: She is survived by a brother, Fred Hutson, and two sisters, Vera Skea and Margery Allen—all in England; five children—Barbara Steager Malone (Bob) of Houston, TX; Brian Steager (Claire) of Mullica Hill, NJ; Pamela Steager of Providence, RI; Jim Steager of Emmaus; and Wendy Steager (Shaun Abraham) of Waterbury, VT; ten grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren in PA, NJ, MA, TX, CT, MD, and CA; and extended family members and friends in the US, England, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Services: As per her wishes, a private celebration of Florence's life with family and friends will be held later this summer in her former home and garden on Fifth Street, Emmaus.
Commemorations: In lieu of flowers, a contribution to your local nature center or volunteering for a local scout troop or humanitarian cause would best honor her memory.
