Jane W. Steele

Jane W. Steele, 84 of Wilmington, DE died Monday, August 31, 2026, at Harbor Chase of Wilmington.

Jane was born and raised in Wilmington, DE.  She received her BS at The University of Delaware and her Masters at The Pennsylvania State University.  She was a history and social studies teacher for many years, teaching multiple elementary and middle school grades.

After her marriage to Ray in 1965, Jane left Wilmington and spent many years living around the country.  Wherever she lived, she became involved through volunteer work and made friends.  While her girls were young, she worked with their schools’ PTAs, she led the children’s liturgy program at St. Joseph’s Church in York, PA, and also taught Sunday School and served as a cantor at Mass.  She was a member of too many book clubs to count and enjoyed playing Bridge and Mah Jong.  Jane eventually returned home to Wilmington, DE, where she continued to make friends and served as the secretary for her community association board.

Jane’s greatest joy was spending time with her family, especially her brothers and sisters, her children, and her grandchildren. She especially loved family vacations to Rehoboth Beach. It was one of the things she remembered most clearly and those memories remained close to her heart until the very end.

Jane is predeceased by her parents Paul and Elizabeth Winnington, her sisters Beth Winnington, Mary Winnington and her brother Frank Winnington.  She is survived by her husband of 61 years Ray Steele, her daughters Jane van Adrichem Boogaert (Paul) and Jennifer McGuire (Matthew) as well as her grandchildren Max, Jay, Sam and Ryan and her sisters and brothers Anne Marie Delle Donne (Bill), Paul Winnington, Jr. (Lucille, deceased), Gerry Winnington (Nancy), Peter Winnington (Barbara), Meg Pryor (Jimmy), and Michele Winnington.

Friends may call on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, September 25 at 10:00 am at St. Ann Catholic Church, 2013 Gilpin Avenue. Burial will follow Mass in All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway. Wilmington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Website: https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.