Edna Mae "Peg" (Saylor) Steele Martinella

Edna Mae (Saylor) Steele Martinella (a.k.a. “Peg”), age 103, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, after a long and full life centered around family, faith, and community. She was born on November 1, 1922, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the second of seven children born to Herbert and Juletta Saylor.

Edna married Rev. Robert (Bob) C. Steele on June 30, 1945, whom she met while he was attending Lancaster Theological Seminary and she was attending Millersville State Teachers College. Together they raised five children while serving church congregations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, and a brief stint in Rochester, New York. She was a devoted wife and mother who managed the many challenges of being a preacher’s wife with warmth, humor, and grace. After Bob’s passing in 1990, she married Eugene (Gene) T, Martinella in 1996, and graciously expanded her family to include stepson Edward Martinella.  After Gene’s passing she became a snowbird to Florida and ultimately moved there full-time to live with her daughter Barbara and son-in-law Duane until Barbara’s passing in 2020.

Professionally, Edna taught at Duff Elementary School in Export, Pennsylvania for two decades where she touched countless young lives with patience, kindness and sometimes a crooked finger. In addition to her church and school communities, Edna was active in the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron and other appointed offices.

Edna enjoyed reading, especially Amish romance novels, and she always had a knack for finding humor in everyday life — even keeping joke books near her devotionals in the bathroom. She found joy in simple pleasures: a steaming cup of coffee, a scoop of chocolate ice cream topped with salted peanuts, or an afternoon or evening on any porch swing available.  At the family camp near Lake Raystown, where many of her siblings had cabins, she delighted in being surrounded by family — even if she preferred dry land to the boats.  Around town, Edna and Bob could occasionally be found doing the dosey-do (square dancing for those that don’t know the lingo), but when Gene entered the picture it was all about the polka.  Edna also enjoyed traveling in her retired years, whether by car train, bus, cruise ship, or RV. 

She was preceded in death by her two husbands, her daughter Barbara Marker, and her siblings Helen McMichael, Clyde Saylor, Bryce Saylor, and Marian Huber. She is survived by her brother Richard Saylor and sister Mary Clare both of Altoona, PA and her loving children Suzann (Frank) Murphy of Philippi, WV, Randall (Janise) Steele of Export, PA, Ronald (Jeri) Steele of Forest, VA, and Patricia (Michael) Goddard of Austin, TX; her son-in-law Duane Marker of Coral Springs, FL; her stepson Edward Martinella of Jeannette, PA ; grandchildren Elise (Ryan) Neal, Colin Murphy, Amanda (Rob) Bank, Michael (Katie) Steele, Kelly (Tim) Thomas, Natalie Goddard, Loren Goddard, and Gemma (Charles) Morris; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing  will be held Saturday, December 6, 2025, beginning at 10:30 a.m. until time of services at 11:30 a.m., led by Pastor Joseph Hedden, Jr., at Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ (“Hills Church”) in Export, PA, where Edna will be laid to rest beside her husband, Bob in the church cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ ("Hills Church") or to the Salvation Army.                                                                                        

May her long life, love of family, and strong faith be an inspiration to us all.

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