Daphne Steele Obituary, Death – Daphne M. (Betty) Steele was 98 years old when she passed away. On Friday, August 18, 2023, a person who had spent their entire life in the communities of Heuvelton and Ogdensburg passed away. In Heuvelton, New York, on February 15, 1925, Ralph and Mary Steele, his parents, who have since passed away, gave birth to him. She went by the name Betty among all people.
As a photographer from the North Country, she was honored with the Elizabeth Baxter Award bestowed by the Ogdensburg Historic Commission in 2018 in recognition of her lifelong commitment to recording the history of the City and Region. Betty has taken photographs of world leaders, members of the British royal family, politicians, and famous celebrities. In the beginning of her career, Betty had positions at the Watertown Times as well as the Ogdensburg Journal. She was the owner of “Steele Photography” on Black Lake Road, which was her own photography studio.
By documenting events like as weddings, family reunions, and portraits, she was able to preserve the history of the people who lived in the north county. She was awarded a number of accolades at both the state and the national level for her work. Betty has been covering the unique events held at St. Mary’s Cathedral for a good number of years. Since she retired, Betty’s friends, family, and coworkers have taken pleasure in her postings on Facebook of historical photographs depicting the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Ogdensburg in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Since she was a teenager, Betty has had a passion for photography and has worked hard to enhance her talents. She began with a box Brownie camera and has since graduated to using high-tech digital equipment as a Certified Professional Photographer. Her brother, Alvin Steele, and her sister, Marjorie B. Larsen, both passed away before Betty. She is survived by her nieces Cathy (Fred) Piper, Ellen Prandi, and Susan (Jerome) Pastwick, all of whom live in their respective states of Pennsylvania, Florida, and Oregon, respectively, as well as by her nephew John (Vivian) Larsen, who lives in Idaho.
Aunt Betty was a courageous and self-reliant woman whom her family cherished and looked up to. We shall miss having her around. A special thank you goes out to Betty’s niece Cathy and Betty’s longtime friend Yvonne Lesperance. Cathy and Fred Piper have been there for Betty no matter what. During these final years, I would also like to express my gratitude to family, friends, and neighbors for their support and care. The Reverend Joseph Morgan will preside over the funeral mass that will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on the morning of Monday, August 21, 2023, at 10:00 AM.
Hillcrest Cemetery, in the Steele Family Plot, will be the location of the interment. Ogdensburg’s Frary Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements and is responsible for their care and direction. Donations in Betty’s memory can be sent to Ogdensburg Catholic Charities, which is located at 214 Caroline Street, Ogdensburg, New York 13669. In lieu of flowers, please send your contributions.
