Obituary of Mildred E. Steg

Mildred "Midge" Elizabeth (Tyree) Steg, age 87, formerly of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2023, in Tampa, FL. She was born in White Sulphur Springs, WV, on October 27, 1936, the daughter of the late Joseph Wesley Tyree and Beatrice Elizabeth (Counts) Tyree. She attended Strong Vincent High School and worked in downtown Erie at Chacona’s Candy store on State Street. Midge embarked on a long retail career by learning the jewelry business with the Rudolph family – first at Seymour Jewelry and later at David Jewelers. She was soon in high demand and eventually joined Jarecki Jewelers at 205 W. 9^th Street.

Jarecki’s, once considered to be the "Tiffany's of Erie", is where Midge applied her jewelry knowledge by creating beautiful and creative window displays (when people would browse shop windows as they strolled the streets downtown). She added a gift room featuring fine porcelain and crystal from Lladro and Waterford. Midge would also travel to New York City and Atlanta as a buyer for the store. After retiring, she was asked back to help when the store was closing. Midge worked at Jarecki’s for over 40 years before it finally closed in 2007.

Midge married Dr. Gilbert A. Steg in 1996, establishing their residence in Fairview where they both cherished being close to nature enjoying the trees, feeding birds, and spotting deer in their back yard. An avid hunter and fisherman, Gil often remarked that Midge was “one of his best catches.” They frequently spent winters in Florida, rotating between St. Petersburg and Edgewater with Midge’s sisters.  Her marriage to Gilbert lasted until his death in 2017.

In addition to her parents, Midge was preceded in death by Gilbert in 2017 and her first husband, Vincent J. Rivas in 2005.

She is survived by her devoted daughters; Regina (Rivas) Presta and husband Michael, of Tampa, FL; Patricia Rivas and grandsons Alexander and Nicholas York, of Louisville, KY; sisters Helen (Tyree) Lamb, of Erie; Frances (Tyree) Amann, of Edgewater, FL; Barbara (Tyree) Graham, of Erie; brother David Tyree, of Edgewater, FL; Gilbert’s children, Mark A. Steg, wife Rhonda, of Fairview; Guy G. Steg, wife Becky, of North East; Renee Hill, husband Mark, of Hudson, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Midge’s family thanks the entire staff at Blue Heron Senior Living in Wesley Chapel, FL, and extends special appreciation and affection to her primary caregiver Angelica Casierra-Torres.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Midge’s memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America - https://alzfdn.org/donate/