Kathleen A. Steele, 76, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2024, after a long illness. Kathy was born in Utica, NY and as a child lived in many places due to being in a military family before settling in Hampton, VA. She graduated from Hampton High School in 1966 and after briefly living in San Francisco, settled back on the Peninsula for most of her life.

Kathy spent the majority of her career supporting Executive teams at Newport News Shipbuilding and was proud to be a part of the company. Later in life she moved to Southern New Jersey to be close to her son. Kathy had a penchant for travel, dining, and her adopted town of Rehoboth Beach. She was a person known for her loving smile, warm hugs and she made everyone feel at home in her presence.

Survivors include her son, Joseph Edward Steele of Rehoboth Beach, DE; her son in law, Christopher Michael Leady, also of Rehoboth Beach, DE; her dear friend, Jacob Boudewijn of Santa Rosa, CA; her grand pups, Finn and Sawyer; and many other near and dear to her heart.

The family would like to thank United Methodist Communities of Collingswood, NJ, and Samaritan's of Southern New Jersey for the outstanding loving care they provided during Kathy's illness. They truly became a part of the family.

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 23 from 10-11 AM at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11 and interment will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the World Wildlife Fund to support her passion for wildlife conservation, especially endangered elephants.