Steen, Mabel Charlotte

MABEL CHARLOTTE STEEN (nee KIRBY)

January 3, 1924- November 25, 2017

93 years well lived! Mabel was born in Edmonton, the eldest of 2 daughters, to Clif and Marion Kirby. She had a wonderful childhood with loving parents. She learned from her parents at a young age to be a good person and lived each day extolling this virtue to the many people she met. Mabel was predeceased by her parents, her sister Jean and her husband Lee.

Mabel was an adventurer all her life. As a youngster she played hockey in school, using Eaton's catalogues, held on by jar rings, as leg pads. She was a gifted pianist and often entertained friends and family with her playing. Mabel taught piano when she was only a teenager.

In 1943 she married G W Lee Steen, her high school sweetheart, and followed him to Halifax and Ottawa during the war years. Lee served in the navy and Mabel worked in the library at the naval building in Ottawa. She also worked as a bank teller in her younger years.

After living briefly in Edmonton, Westlock and Medicine Hat, the family settled in Lethbridge in 1952. Mabel was a great mother, home maker and cook and took good care of her sons, Terry (Carol) and Lloyd (Sarah). The greatest joys in her life were her grandchildren, Cam (Jenn), Taryn (Nevin) and Jonathan (Ella) and her great grandchildren, Darian, Jayda, Isaac, Brooklynn, Mika and Hunter. She was 'second mom/nana' to so many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family. She also loved the many dogs she had throughout her life.

Mabel will long be remembered for her tremendous sense of humour and the loving friendship she provided to so many friends and family. She sent more greeting and birthday cards than any person who ever lived! Mabel took an interest in people and made people feel special. Those who knew her well will forever miss her warmth, generosity, sense of humour and her way with words. And of course she was famous for her pumpkin cookies and hundreds of loaves of cheese bread she made for others!

This obituary was personally approved by Mabel - for, as those of you who knew her know, she always had to have the last word! We will miss you, Mabel, and we smile broadly each time we think of you!

If you wish to make a donation in Mabel's memory, local charities (Woods Homes, Streets Alive, YWCA Harbour House) and Animal Shelters were her favourites!

A Celebration of Mabel's Life will be held at the GERMAN CANADIAN CLUB - 902 6 St N, Lethbridge, AB on Friday, December 1st, 2017 from 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. with a short program being offered at 1:30 P.M.