Darla Jo-Ann Steinke

Darla is preceded in her death by her father Fernand and her brother Daniel.

She is survived by her mother Ellen “Grace”, husband William, brother Jerold and her children Cory (Kristin), Kim (Cory Nakamura) and Kristi. She had five wonderful grandchildren whom she cherished: Aidan, Derek, Adam, Avery, and Finley. Darla leaves behind many special people in her life whom she loved dearly. Darla always considered Andrea Kehler a daughter and held a special place for her in her heart.

Darla was wonderfully devoted to her husband Bill of 45 years and their three children. Being a wife and a mother was what defined her, and she treasured the life they created for themselves. Raising her family on the farm and the life it provided made her dreams come true.

As a young girl, Darla loved curling and started playing with the Pembina Juniors at age 12. She skipped for the Vincent Massey curling team where they won the provincials. As an adult, Darla played third for her mother Grace’s team for many years and only quit when she had her third child, Kristi. Her kids and family came first.

Darla began working at the Hudson’s Bay Company at age 16 in the Young Moderns shop. After receiving her Clerk Typist diploma from the Angus School of Business, she started working for Prudential Insurance as the receptionist. After many roles at different companies, she settled at Avco Financial where she worked until her first child Cory was born.

They moved their family out to the farm, in Niverville, in 1982 where they spent nine years raising the kids. This entailed shuttling them to hockey, figure skating, scouts, guides, piano lessons, recitals, and band concerts. Darla found it very fulfilling being a mom, living on the farm and being a close-knit family. In 1991, they purchased a dairy farm in Landmark where they farmed until retirement. In retirement, Darla designed and helped build their retirement home. This was something she was very proud of because it was built with family in mind; large open spaces where everyone could be together playing games, sharing meals, watching the grandkids play and enjoying everyone’s company.

Darla took great care of many people throughout her life and found purpose in helping others. At the end of her life, it was she who needed care. She was very grateful to everyone for the many visits, the outings for lunch, the trips down memory lane, the laughs and the cries and the phone calls from near and far. Val Fourneaux was a life-long friend and was there for her right to the end. She loved Val very much.

Darla was the glue that bound our family and will be missed terribly.

A Celebration of Life at a come and go reception will be held on Monday, January 14 between 3:00 and 5:00 pm at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Debbie and Dr. Lawrence Homik. They were both a great comfort to our mother in the final years of her battle.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Darla may be made to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.