Carmen Jean Castinado Steele

Carmen Jean Castinado Quiroga Steele, age 101, passed away September 24, 2022, at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where she resided at Ortega Gardens, an Alzheimer’s care center.  

Carmen was born December 27, 1920, in Haig, Nebraska, west of Scottsbluff, to Benjamin Rocha Castinado and Otila MartinezCastinado.  The family later moved to Scottsbluff, where the rest of the family was born, where Carmen was raised and graduated from high school in 1939.  Carmen then moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where she worked for a government factory that assembled bombs and other equipment during World War II.  Carmen later met and married Joseph Quiroga, and they later moved to Toledo, Ohio, where they made their home. Carmenand Joseph raised two children together, Paul and Gloria.  Carmen later met and married Ted Steele and continued to live in Toledo until Ted passed away.  Carmen then moved to Florida to live with her son, Paul.  

Carmen was survived by one sister, Lupe Battersby; one brother, Benjamin Castinado Jr.; grandson Michael Quiroga; granddaughter Heather Vogel, wife of Simon Vogel; greatgrandchildren Reese and Jase Vogel; sisters-in-law Ann (Henry Castinado); Santa (Joe Castinado); brother-in-law Jim (Helen) Dikes; and several other nieces and nephews in the family.

Carmen was preceded in death by parents Benjamin and Otila Castinado; husband Ted; daughter Gloria Quiroga; Son Paul Quiroga; brothers Alias Castinado, Joseph M. Castinado, Louis M. Castinado, and Trinidad Henry Castinado; sisters Vera Hendrix, Carolina Castinado, Katheryn McManis, Caroline Shannon, Helen Dikes, Stella Law, Gloria Castinado, Ramona Castinado, and Christine Castinado; sisters-in-law Melba (Joe), Olivia (Louis), Jennie Castinado Rodriguez (Henry), Billye (Benjamin Jr.); and brothers-in-law Dick Hendrix, Bill Battersby, Doug Law, and James Shannon.

Carmen was an amazing and independent woman who was a very devoted Catholic.  She also enjoyed sewing, taking walks in the garden, listening to music and cleaning. She was bilingual.She could always make you laugh and lit up the room whenever she walked in, and she was a good storyteller. She was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

There will be a catholic service for Carmen on October 30, 2022, at 1:30 pm at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in River Falls, WI.