Member of Congregational Church, mother of Harvard woman

Elsa Ann (Van Riper) Steele of Acton, 94, died peacefully June 24, 2009, at the Life Care Center in Littleton.

Elsa, a member of the Harvard Congregational Church, was born in Paterson, N.J., on March 28, 1915, the eldest daughter of the late William and Anna (Drexler) Van Riper. She was predeceased by her brothers William D. Van Riper and Adrian B. Van Riper, and her sister Marjorie (Van Riper) Dement.

Elsa graduated from Wheelock College in Boston in 1935 and later taught school in Midland Park, N.J. On June 25, 1937, she married Jacob Henry Steele III, of Paterson, N.J. Elsa and “Jake” shared 67 loving years before Jake’s death in 2004. The couple lived for 35 years in Glen Rock, N.J., where they raised three children. After their retirement, they lived in Remsenburg, N.Y. for 22 years. They moved to Acton in 1993.

Elsa is survived by her two daughters and their families: Susan (Steele) Guswa and her husband, John Henry Guswa of Old Meadow Lane; and Joan (Steele) Light and her husband, Charles Randolph Light of Cazenovia, N.Y. She also leaves her daughter-in-law, Janet (Shamie) Steele of Annapolis, Md., wife of the late Jacob Henry Steele IV, who died in 1998. Also surviving are her six grandchildren: Susan Light and her husband, Eric Olson, and Kelly Light of Cazenovia, N.Y; Andrew Guswa and his wife, Susan Hulvey Guswa, of Northhampton; Jacob Guswa of Los Angeles, Calif.; Diane Steele Williams and her husband, Todd, of Annapolis, Md.; and Jennifer Steele Wilson and her husband, Ray, of Arnold, Md. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Hannah, John Henry, and Willem Light-Olson; Zachary and Calvin Guswa; Jacob and Ryan Williams; Christopher and Jessica Wilson; and many nieces and nephews.

She will be remembered always for her positive attitude toward life, her wonderful sense of humor, and her deep devotion to her beloved family.

Arrangements for burial have not been finalized.