Lois Steadman

Lois Catherine Steadman, 94, of Gulf Breeze, Florida passed away peacefully on October 17,  2021, surrounded by her loving family.  Lois was born May 14, 1927, in Elgin, Illinois. After high school, she attended the Loyola University School of Nursing and became a registered nurse.  She worked at the Illinois Neuro-Psychiatric Institute in Chicago.

After marrying her dashing Marine, Hank, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee where she worked at the Veterans Hospital thereby starting their 66 year-long love story.  Their adventure took them to various places including Pensacola, Texas, California, North Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii (her favorite), Washington DC, and finally, coming full circle, settling in Gulf Breeze in 1978.

Lois was the rock of her family during these many transitions.  A strong-willed, principled matriarch to the very end, she spent countless hours volunteering at the church and in the community.  In addition she shuttled her 5 children to all their various activities, was an avid reader and beautiful cross-stitcher.

A quintessential Marine wife, she remarkably held down the home front while her husband was away for months at a time on numerous tours of duty.  She will be remembered for her commitment to family, for being adorably headstrong, and for her laughter — as well as her irreverent anecdotes from her Catholic upbringing and tales of the immeasurable love she shared with her Hank and kiddos.

Lois is survived by her children Mike Steadman of Atlanta, GA; Kathie Weiland of Gulf Breeze; Scott Steadman of Cary, NC; and Mary Beth Steadman of San Francisco, CA (and their respective families) including grandchildren Melissa, Michael, Kristin, Nicholas, Jack and Nicholas as well as four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Hank and their daughter Pati.

Our heartfelt thanks goes to all the extraordinary caregivers at Home Instead, Grannies Nannies, Amedysis Home Health Care, Regency Hospice, and Rose Lawn Funeral Home. Your kindness and loving care helped to ease our pain.

Visitation will be held Thursday October 21, 2021 at St Ann Catholic Church from 10:30-11:00 AM followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM.  A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Interment will take place Friday October 22, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, FL. Please refer to the Rose Lawn website for information on the funeral procession.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Little Sister's of the Poor, 1655 McGill Avenue, Mobile, AL, 36604.