Kathleen Wilson Steen

Kathleen “Kay” W. Steen, 93, passed away on July 20, 2020 from Covid-19/pneumonia at Windsor Point Retirement Home in Fuquay-Varina, NC. She was born on April 27, 1927 in Stockholm, Maine, to the late Thomas and Ethel (Anderson) Wilson. Kay loved to share fond memories of her maternal grandmother that she affectionally called “Mormor”, brushing her hair and riding in a horse drawn carriage through the snow to Mormor’s house. Kay’s family moved to Patten, Maine when she was 16, where she met her future husband, Archie Steen. Archie has shared many times the sweet story of how he met Kay…when he walked down the street where she lived, he looked up and saw her for the first time, and said to his friend “that’s the girl I’m going to marry!” − Kay and Archie married on December 27, 1946 and were never far apart from that time forward.

Kay attended the University of Maine at Orono and then worked to help put Archie through college. In 1951 they began raising a family where Kay made a gracious home everywhere the family lived; from upstate New York to Alabama and back to New York. As her children grew older and more independent, Kay returned to work as an executive assistant to the president and CEO of Curtis Lumber Company, located in Ballston Spa, New York.

Kay had numerous gifts and talents that she used to demonstrate her love for family and friends. She was highly skilled as a seamstress, making clothes for the family and her daughters’ Barbie dolls, as well as Halloween costumes and window treatments. Kay also knitted beautiful sweaters that are now family heirlooms. She had a green thumb, found great joy in gardening and always had a beautiful flower garden. Kay’s memory lives on in the many things she handcrafted, from ceramic vases and bowls, to cross-stitched Christmas stockings to beautiful paintings.

Affectionately known as “Grandma” and “Meema” to her six grandchildren, Kay was the embodiment of unconditional love. She lovingly cared for them while their parents worked or pursued advanced degrees, volunteered in their schools, attended their sporting events and so many other acts of love, making each grandchild feel as though they were the most important person to her.

Kay and Archie loved to travel and enjoyed many wonderful trips including London, Scotland, Sweden, San Francisco, Vancouver and New Zealand. Upon retirement, they enjoyed traveling the country in an RV before settling in Apex, North Carolina.

Kay’s faith was very strong, and she was always very involved in her church community. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Burnt Hills, NY, up until she and Archie joined Apex United Methodist Church in 1987, where Kay served as treasurer and choir pianist, in addition to numerous other volunteer activities over the course of their 30-year membership.

During their retirement in Apex, NC, Kay became the quintessential hostess, always welcoming traveling family and friends with delicious meals and a comfortable place to rest.

Kay was a gentle soul, yet fiercely protective and proud of her family. She was thoughtful, kind and calm, and navigated even the most challenging times with patience and grace. Always putting others before herself and never having a harsh word for anyone, those that had the pleasure of meeting Kay simply loved her. She bestowed the blessing of her goodness upon her family and they will be forever grateful.

Kay is survived by her beloved husband of 73 years, Archie Steen of Fuquay-Varina, NC. She is the mother of Pam Rondot (husband Phil Rondot), St. Louis, MO; Beth Becker, Apex, NC; Claudia Steen, Apex, NC and Paul Steen (wife Brenda Steen), Apex, NC; grandmother to Heather, David, Brian, Joshua, Noah and Hollan; great-grandmother to Danny, Andralyn, Emerson, Miles, Jordyn, Kellan, August, Gillian, Dominik, and Henry. Kay is predeceased by her brother, Lloyd Wilson.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.