Donna Steckowski, 55

Donna Lynn Steckowski, who had been a volunteer emergency medical technician and most recently worked in a CVS pharmacy, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, Md., on Aug. 15, from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. She would have been 56 in three days.

Mrs. Steckowski, who was raised in East Hampton and graduated from high school here, always had a smile that left a lasting impression on those around her, her family wrote. That carried into her  work with the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. One of her proudest achievements was following in the footsteps of her son Kevin and her daughter, Jody, by joining the ambulance squad. “She obtained so much gratification and happiness helping those in need,” they said.

Born on Aug. 18, 1960, at Southampton Hospital, her parents were George Seacord and the former Judith Holmes, who died before her. Mrs. Steckowski met her future husband, John (Jody) Steckowski, in high school. They lived in Amagansett, where her husband was from, for a time after they married on Nov. 4, 1978.

Because her husband joined the Navy, they moved around quite a bit, until they settled in Lexington Park in 1992. The couple often came to East Hampton to visit family.

Mrs. Steckowski’s greatest joy was becoming a grandmother, her family said, calling “all seven of her grandchildren apples of her eye. In addition to having had several retail jobs, she enjoyed arts and crafts, especially cross-stitching and painting, and doing crossword puzzles. A reader, she completed several novels a week, her family said.

In addition to her husband of 37 years, Mrs. Steckowski is survived by her children, Kevin Steckowski of Leonardtown, Jody Lagestee of Davidson, N.C., and Christopher Steckowski of California, Md., and by seven grandchildren.

A service was held on Monday at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Company headquarters in Lexington Park. Memorial donations have been suggested to the Hospice of St. Mary’s, 44724 Hospice Lane, Callaway, Md. 20620, or a charity of one’s choice.