Rosemary Steffish, of Lancaster, in her 69th year of elegance, ascended peacefully into her Lord and heavenly family's loving arms Friday morning, May 19, 2017, with her adoring family at her side. Born in Mine 40, a small mining town in Windber PA , she was the youngest daughter of the late Steven and Frances M. (Steback) Steffish.

After Graduating from Windber High School in '64, at 17, she moved to Lancaster PA into her own apartment, worked at RR Donnelley, and met her companion of 50 years, Donald E. Gamber of Ephrata PA.

Through the 70's she was district manager of Bernard Wigs and personally coordinated and opened new stores along the east coast.

She then entered into the Lancaster School of Cosmetology as a student and graduated as a cosmetology teacher. She remained at LSC serving as programs coordinator, admissions counselor, and an instructor and was voted "Cosmetology Teacher of the Year" in PA and nationally in '88. She was a board member of the Teachers Education Council, certified Subject Matter Expert and past president of the Lancaster Professional Cosmetology Association. After briefly working at Aaron's Studios in downtown Lancaster, she returned to LSC in '96 as the Director of Education, worked for Pearson View as a PA state cosmetology boards test instructor, was a questionologist, and did textbook review and curriculum input for Milady textbooks for cosmetology students. She had a fulfilling 30 years of teaching, she enriched the lives of her students with her knowledge, guidance, and compassion. She was greatly loved by her LSC family.

She created, owned and operated "Summer Smoothies", one of the first fresh fruit smoothie venders as well as the first to sell Philadelphia braided soft pretzels, and "Summer Sand Art" and did events all over PA. She often regarded it as one of her favorite and most enjoyable moments in her life.

A member of Toastmasters International, she won numerous "Best Speaker" and "Best Speech" awards. She volunteered at the Mulberry Art Studio on occasion, and helped with the production of the vagina monologues. She was always willing to lend a helping hand, and quick to respond with a "Thank you kindly!" when helped by others.

As the matriarch of her family, she orchestrated every detail of family events. Loved traveling and creating memories with her family, and spending holidays together. She enjoyed all flora and fauna of nature, an avid flower show enthusiast and gardener, as well as Longwood Gardens. She was fond of fishing and crabbing at the beach. She appreciated camping, swimming, and having get togethers with family and friends at her cabin in Pequea, PA. She was also a lover of animals, especially cats.

She was an active member, and served as a board member of the Lancaster Metaphysical Chapel, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was very active in her faith and would attend church services and functions at several different churches. She was always prepared with prayer and blessings for every occasion. She will be lovingly missed by her surviving family, her companion, Donald E. Gamber, her son, Gregory N. Steffish and his wife Danette A. Steffish, her daughter, April A. Steffish and her Husband Michael H. Buch, her sister Frances J. Finnegan, her brother Eugene J. Steffish and his wife Janet B. Steffish, numerous adoring nieces and nephews, four admiring Grandchildren, Kyle N. Steffish, Jesse M. Buch, Wyatt A. Steffish, and Wilson D. Buch, and many loving grandnieces and grandnephews. She is proceeded in death by her eldest brother Steven (Sonny) Steffish Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 St. Joseph St., Lancaster, on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 11AM, with Rev. Allan F. Wolfe as Celebrant. A viewing will be held from 9:00-11AM, and a luncheon to follow at noon. Flowers will be received at St. Joseph church the morning of services.

The legacy of her love and light will live on in the hearts of all of us that she inspired.