Jane (Steets) LeMaster

Jane Steets LeMaster, 94, died peacefully, December 17, 2024, in Murrysville, PA. Born Mary Jane Steets on August 27, 1930 to the late John and Mary (Shulik) Steets at Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights, PA. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome “Jay” Lloyd LeMaster; her siblings, William (Betty Penman) Steets, Helen (Martin) Skuta, Mildred (John) Derikart, Dorothy (Charles) McCullough, and Theodore Steets, as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, who died in Holland in WWII; nieces and nephews, J. Martin (Connie Myslinski) Skuta, Kathy Steets, Pat (Ted) Shaffer, Mary Jo Teski, and Travis Max Miller.

Jane was a graduate of Tarentum High School, majoring in business. Her first work experience was at The Family Grocery Store, and later at the Valley News Dispatch Advertising Department. In 1952 Jane moved to New York City and worked her way up the success ladder becoming a woman who put cracks in the glass ceiling for future women, wearing slacks (a small town scandal in the 1950s), moving alone to the Big City, choosing to work and self-support, traveling around the world alone, and not marrying until later in life represent some norms Jane ignored. New York work experiences include Muzik Elevator Music, and a personal financial secretary at Columbia University, Citibank, and an affiliation with Samuel Silverman, New York City Financier. Enjoyment of all branches of the arts, and entertaining friends at parties and dinners with her master cookery enriched Jane’s life. She was a member of the Turtle Bay Association, The Opera Index, Soroptimist International New York City and the James Beard Society. Jane and Commercial Artist husband Jerome (Jay) Lloyd LeMaster married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1973. Their love of dancing prompted friends to refer to them as Fred and Ginger. In her salad days, smartly dressed, attractive Jane was frequently mistaken for Elizabeth Taylor.

Jane is survived by many more nieces and nephews who enjoyed her visits and famous Chinese dinners. Jane and Jay are interred next to Jane’s parents at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Lower Burrell, PA. Entrusted with arrangements is Hart Funeral Home, Inc. Murrysville, PA. For online condolences, please visit www.hartfuneralhomeinc.com.

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