Obituary of Fern M. Steiger

Fern Marie Steiger, 84, of Enfield, Connecticut went home to be with her Savior on July, 21, 2022.  Sadly, she lost her brave battle with dementia. While Fern was a resident of New England for over 65 years, her heart was always in Amsterdam, where she was born and raised, and where she met and married the love of her life.  Born in Amsterdam, New York on May 13, 1938, she was the daughter of the late William P. and Mabel I. (Mullet) Dostie. She was the youngest of five children and attended various Amsterdam schools, including the Wilbur H. Lynch High School. Fern married Robert Smith Steiger in Amsterdam on December 2, 1956. They were married for nearly 50 years until his death in 2006.  The young couple soon moved to New England to find work and start their family. Fern was a member of the First Baptist Church of Enfield for over 50 years where she was involved in various children’s ministries, including the nursery, VBS, AWANA, and assisting her husband in teaching Sunday School. But much more importantly, she was a member of God’s family because she trusted Jesus as her own personal Savior as a young girl at summer camp in 1950.  Mom had an amazing memory for dates and would always make a call or send a card, etc to family and friends for birthdays and anniversaries.  We can be thankful we had an old fashioned Mom who went faithfully with her family to church, taught us manners, thrift, right from wrong, how to be thorough in our work, how to choose good friends, and to genuinely care about others.  Mom was also a natural teacher, and as a result we learned to love learning.

Fern is preceded in death by her parents and 4 older brothers and sisters, Durward “Dusty”, Janice, Marilyn, and Ronald.

Fern is survived by her sons, Robert (Georgina) Steiger and Ronald Steiger, her daughter, Amy (Jonathan) Weaver, 8 grandchildren, Adam Steiger (Melody Slater), Donna Steiger (Jacob Cichy), and  Melissa Steiger (Aaron Merriam), Elizabeth (Andrew) Lee, Timothy (Samantha) Mierta, David Mierta, Sarah (Stephen) Pate, and Rebekah (Matthew) Denner, 18 great grandchildren, Joshua, Caleb, Ethan, & Olivia Lee, Anna, Timothy, Samuel, & Greyson Mierta, Caroline, Evelyn, & Elliot Pate, Matthew, Michael, & Madelyn Denner, Asher & Levi Cichy, and Brynlee & Baby Boy Merriam. Fern is also survived by a sister-in-law, Amy (Steiger) Greco, and a brother and sister-in-law, Reinhard & Patricia (Dostie) Steiger, who also is a first cousin, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.  

A Christian service will be on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 1 PM at the Betz, Rossi, Bellinger, & Stewart Family Funeral Homes, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Calling hours will take place prior to the funeral service from 11 AM to 1 PM. A Christian burial will follow at the Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill, NY.  In lieu of flowers, contributions, in memory of Fern, may be made to the Springfield Rescue Mission, Springfield, Massachusetts or to the First Baptist Church of Enfield, Enfield, Connecticut.