Juanita Steinman (June 17, 1944-October 31, 2025)
Juanita Steinman, of Rochester, NY, died in hospice care at St. John’s Home of Rochester, NY on October 31, 2025. She battled Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for several years and ultimately passed due to long term after-effects of cancer treatments. She is no longer suffering.
Juanita was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, to Bernice Krogol (born Grelock) and Walter Krogol. She lived a full life, born proudly from a joyful and loving Polish family. Juanita grew up surrounded by friends and family, riding her bike around her neighborhood in the summertime and around the ice rink on speed skates in the wintertime. Her first job as a teenager was at Woolworth’s dime store, where she unexpectedly got to play Christmas songs in the display window on a baby grand piano. In 1964, at age 18 she started working for American Airlines as a ticket agent, which brought her around the
country and the world for the rest of her life. She worked for American Airlines for over 38 years! Juanita met her husband, Ron, at the pool in the apartment complex in Rochester where they both lived at the time. Ron asked Juanita if she wanted to buy a car, she cooly responded “no,” but they both ended up at the pool the next day looking for each other, and the rest is history. Ron and Juanita were married for 51 years, and Ron says that Juanita is “the best thing that ever happened to me.” Juanita’s family, friends, and American Airlines colleagues all agree that Juanita was loving and giving, and the life of the party. She took an endless number of photos and always had a camera with her. She loved to celebrate birthdays and holidays, especially Halloween. It is fitting that that she passed away the morning of October 31, 2025. It will be an honor to celebrate her each year with joy, laughter, and shenanigans.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, David Krogol. Juanita is survived by her devoted husband (Ronald Steinman), daughters (Laura Evonne Steinman {Reed} and Leigh Alexandra Kirby), and beloved grandchildren (Ezra Walden Kirby and Leona Malcolm Kirby). Juanita is also survived by several close relatives on Ronald’s side of the family: Ron’s aunt Joanne Binder, cousin Chip {Dorene}, sister Sandra Levine {David}, brother-in-law Robert Seligman, nephew Craig Levine {Phoebe}, nieces Ilyse Levine {David}, Danielle Levine, Norrie Feinblatt {Jeff}, Kira Brooks {Katy}, and several wonderful grandnieces and grandnephews. Juanita’s long distance surviving Polish blood relatives are forever loved and treasured.
A Celebration of Life will be held at First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 S. Winton Road, Rochester, NY 14610 at 2:30pm on Saturday, November 8th 2025, with a reception to follow. The service will be recorded and available upon request from First Unitarian Church: 585-271-9070 email: office@rochesterunitarian.org
Formal attire not necessary. Colorful attire requested by Juanita. She specified “unless black is your color.”
In lieu of flowers Juanita asked that family and friends make a donation to an organization that is meaningful to them.
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Dear Ron and family.
This was a beautifully written obituary and really captured Juanita’s essence.
Our hearts and prayers are with all of you. Sending hugs.
Juanita and my mother Rita Ochman (Sucharski) were very close. Juanita’s mom Bernice was related to my dad Henry. I have fond memories of Juanita even
though she was miles away. My mom would tell me ” I talked to Juanita today” and the stories would be told!
Juanita reached out to me when my mom was called “home” we laughed and cried .
Juanita bought my mom a dish from Poland….she displayed it proudly for everyone to see. I have that dish, and like my mother I have it proudly displayed with wonderful memories of my cousin,Juanita.
You are a beautiful soul and I know that Heaven is rejoicing now that you are HOME.
My love and prayers are with everyone that had the blessing of knowing Juanita.
Ron and family,
It was a blessing to have met Juanita and my privilege to have done her
hair-do for so many years. It was about 38, give or take. All the gals enjoyed when Juanita came in. And dragging Ron. She will be missed, but she will leave great memories.
Ron, Laura, and Leigh,
Juanita was always a thoughtful and courteous neighbor. We have missed very much seeing her out and about over the years while she was ill. It was always a joy. May she rest in peace always. We pray very much that all of you will find comfort, strength and peace. With Love, Marie Brennan and family
I am sorry that I missed Juanita’s memorial service. I have a great memory of a day I spent working with her on a Habit for Humanity house in the Susan B Anthony neighborhood. We worked our butts off in the process of back filling the foundation of the house and hoisting roof joists up through a pulley mechanism. Most of all we got filthy dirty and sweaty but laughed a lot.