Obituary for Bertha Helen Watts Steele

BERTHA HELEN WATTS STEELE

Bertha Helen Watts Steele, 84, passed away Friday, June 2, 2023, at her home on Steele Drive in Laurel.

She was born March 27, 1939, in Fall River, Massachusetts, the daughter of Joseph A. Watts Sr. and Olila Menard Watts.

A native of Laurel, Bertha was a homemaker, bookkeeper for B. & J. Construction, and superintendent of the Laurel Nazarene Church. She loved gardening, her flowers, and most of all spending time with her family.

On May 9, 1956, she was married in Laurel to Benjamin Lee Steele Sr. Mr. Steele passed away September 25, 2016.

Survivors include two sons, Benjamin (Sharon) Steele Jr. and Jason (Ashley) Steele; a daughter, Denise (Randy) Bare; two brothers, James (Josephine) Watts and George (Brenda) Watts; two sisters, Rosemary Lupachini and Suzanne Thomas; nine grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.

Other than her husband of 60 years, Benjamin Lee Steele Sr., she was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph Jr. “Tootsie,” Thomas, and Edward Watts; and three sisters, Jacqueline Cormier, Irene Dwiggins, and Dorothy Arruda.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Duane Harrison at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Reach Community Church (formerly Laurel Nazarene Church) where friends may call from noon until the time of the service. Burial will be in Laurel North Cemetery. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bertha to the Reach Community Church.

Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.