Svea M. Steele

Svea M. Englund Steele, Artist 99, of Portsmouth, RI, died Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at home with her family.She was the wife of the late Harry M. Steele, Jr. Born in Riverside, NJ, but spent most of her life in Portsmouth, RI, she was the daughter of the late John A. and Isabelle McLaughlin Englund.Following high school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Bulova Watches in Providence. She married Harry in 1940. They raised the family along the waterfront of Portsmouth. After the children were grown, she studied library science and spent several years employed at the Portsmouth Free Public Library and at Barrington College Library. She relished a good book, a concert, an art show, or a course of study. She was active with PTA, Girl Scouts, Library Committees, Red Cross, local Art Guilds, VASA Pioneer Lodge, and the Portsmouth Garden Club. She delivered Meals on Wheels for ten years. She was known for her artistic talent, her baking skills, and her sociability. She initially studied drawing at RISD, and later pursued painting with Marion Carey, Marcelle Cassavant and Eileen Shanley. Art was her first love and her plein air landscapes and still life paintings reveal her keen eye, appreciation of nature, and mastery of the watercolor medium. Active into her elder years, she loved to garden, watch the birds, walk with friends, swim, bowl, travel with her daughter, and gather with good friends at her son and daughter-in-laws home.With the caring and professional help of the Homecare staff at New Care Services, Forest Avenue, Middletown, as well the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol County, she was able to maintain her independence and enjoy the comforts of her home to the end of her life.She is survived by her son David E. Steele and his wife Jane of Middletown, RI and her daughter Susan S. Stevenson and her husband Phillip of South Lake Tahoe, CA.A memorial celebration will be private.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Portsmouth Garden Club, 83 Park Ave, Portsmouth, RI 02871.