Jane Steele Valdivia

Jane Steele Valdivia, age 61, of Elkridge, Maryland, passed away on Tuesday, November 9th in the warmth of her daughter's home after a 7 year-long battle with ovarian cancer.

She was born to the late John Dayton Steele and Juliette Hamilton Steele, on March 21, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio as the youngest of 5 siblings. Jane is survived by her eldest brother, John Dayton Steele II, and her two loving children, her daughter, Laura Valdivia Busick of Sykesville, Maryland, and son Brian Steele Valdivia of Denver Colorado, and their wonderful spouses, Dane Anthony Busick, and Genevieve Sarah Shapiro as well as many incredible nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was looking forward to becoming a grandmother to her first grandchild in February of 2022, who will be named Dorothy Jane, in her honor. We know that Jane is now reunited with her beloved husband, Daniel Emil Valdivia, who predeceased her in 2005, at what she always called "Heaven's Bar" where only the best wine and pumpkin beer is always on tap. She is welcomed into the warm embrace of her family that went before her, including her sisters, Carolyn Vaughan, Anne Galbraith, and Nancy Qualters, her brother-in-law, Donald Qualters Sr., her sister-in-law, Linda Steele, her nephews, Nick Qualters and Angus Galbraith, and her in-laws, Maria Guadalupe Valdivia, and Arthur Valdivia. We know that they are toasting her successes, just as we do, as a loving and supportive Mother, committed Wife, thoughtful Friend, and in her 38 year-long career in service to the defense of our nation. She was in truth, a survivor, persevering through the loss of her mother at an early age, through the loss of her husband, and her dear sisters. Through all of this, she ensured the security, wellbeing, and happiness of her family, especially her children, for whom she dedicated her energy to raise and uplift through the turmoil of grief in adolescence and provided a strong foundation and guidance for them to grow into the happy and successful adults they have become. She will be remembered for her tenacity, her optimism, her kindness, and her grace by all those who loved her and knew her well.

Jane's funeral mass will be live streamed on St. Augustine Church's website , Friday, November 19, 2021 at 11:00 am.