Rosa Steele

Rosa Margarita Steele, 84, passed away on October 15, 2024, in Reno, Nevada, after suffering a stroke, with her family by her side. Marge was born on March 14, 1940, to Felix and Irma (Blanch) Mercado, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. After her parents' divorce, Marge lived with her mother, brother, and extended family. After Marge graduated from Santurce High School, and the Instituto Commerciale de Puerto Rico, she made the difficult decision to leave her mom and the beautiful island commonwealth of Puerto Rico to live with her dad in the United States, who was a Sergeant in the US Army. She met 1st Lieutenant Gordon Steele at a Thanksgiving dinner at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. They married on September 15, 1962. After the Army, the family embarked on a career in the mining industry, which led to many moves across the western United States. Gordon and Marge were a blessed couple, and truly defined a successful marriage. 

Marge worked as a bilingual secretary and a bilingual teacher's aide. But her most fulfilling work was as Mom, and then Abuela. She was always there to talk, consult, play, sing, and occasionally argue. She loved her family immensely, and she showed her two daughters and four granddaughters what it meant to be kind, strong in adversity, and to value education. 

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Gordon Steele, daughters Suzanne (Joseph) Norris, Kathleen Steele, granddaughters Katherine Norris, Amanda Norris, Elizabeth (Jake) Wahl, Jennifer Sims, great-grandson Noah Wahl, great-granddaughter baby Wahl on the way, her brother Edwin Mercado and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. Marge was proceeded in death by her father Felix Mercado, mother Irma Blanch, half-sister Yolanda Rodriguez, half-brother Carlos Rodriguez, and nephew Carlitos Rodriguez. 

Marge was a member of Sparks United Methodist Church. Services will be at Sparks UMC on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 1:00 pm. A second service will be at Hood Mortuary in Durango, Colorado, on November 2, 2024, at 10:00 am, followed by internment at the Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield, Colorado. A special thank you to the Reno Gentiva Hospice Nurses and CNAs for the tremendous care they gave Marge, and to the Lend A Hand caregivers, for making her last days here comfortable.