Janet Russell (Conover) Steelman

Janet Russell (Conover) Steelman

Mother, Master Gardener, Leader, and Volunteer -

Janet Russell (Conover) Steelman, age 84, died at Country Meadows of the West Shore on Thursday, September 17, 2015.  Janet was born on Saturday, August 15, 1931, in Lakewood, NJ.  Her parents were William Kable Russell and Alice (Staton) Russell.  Janet was the widow of Richard “Dick” Linwood Steelman, whom she married on August 20, 1974, and who died on February 16, 2012.  In addition to her parents and husband, Janet is preceded in death by her sisters, Alice Conover and Grace Russell; and her former husband, Clifton Newton “Kip” Bradley.

Janet’s survivors include her three sons: Russell Bradley and his wife, Bertha, of Mechanicsburg, David Bradley and his wife, Pam, of Tyrone, PA, Clifton “Jamie” Bradley and his wife, Jeanne, of Quakertown, PA; her six grandchildren; and her three great-grandchildren.

Janet graduated from Mary Baldwin College in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.  Between 1952 and 1976, she worked as a histology lab assistant for Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research and a genetic toxicology research associate for McNeil Pharmaceutical , where she later served as a research and development project manager.  In 1984, Janet was the first woman to serve as the project manager for the Project Management Institute International Symposium and was recognized for her distinguished contributions in 1985.  During that time, Janet also volunteered in the bacteriology lab at Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, PA. Upon retirement in 1990 from McNeil Pharmaceutical, Janet moved to Northumberland County, VA, and served on the advisory board of visitors, the Humphreys Lecture Series committee, and the alumnae association board of Mary Baldwin College , where she was honored with the Emily Wirsing Leadership award in 1995.  Throughout the 1990s, Janet participated in the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club , the Virginia Master Gardener Program , and was president of the Lancaster/Northumberland Master Gardener Association , receiving a volunteer award for horticulture from the Northumberland County Extension Office.  Janet served as conservation chairman of the Northumberland Women’s Club and secretary/treasurer for the Northern Neck Sailing Association , earning the Commodore’s Award in 2000 for outstanding contributions to the founding and dedicated leadership of its programs.  Janet was a member of St. Stephen’s Church in Virginia for 20 years; serving as a Eucharistic minister, a member of the visitation committee, and completing two years of education for ministry.  She was vice president of the Episcopal Church Women and chaired the landscape committee.  Janet’s favorite activities included gardening, bicycling, sailing, motor cruising, and traveling; and cherished time spent with family, who will miss her deeply.

All are welcome to join Janet’s family at her gathering of family and friends on Sunday, October 11, 2015, from 2:30 p.m. until time of service at 3:00 p.m. at Myers - Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory , 37 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; with Celebrant George Spangler officiating.  Janet’s family invites everyone to join them for a time of food and fellowship at Snapper’s Bar & Grill , 120 East Allen Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, following the service.  Cremation was private.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Janet’s fund page for the Alzheimer’s Association: http://act.alz.org/site/TR?pxfid=309220&fr_id=1060&pg=fund&et=h8P6QxZkCgtQf5mqVOh7oQ&s_tafId=1910

Janet’s family has entrusted her care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Janet’s full obituary and sign her official guest book at www.Myers-Buhrig.com .