STM Remembers Alumna Desirée Hutton (Steele)

The STM community mourns the loss of alumna Desirée Steele to cancer, August 24, 2022.

While her life journey was much too short, Desirée proved a bright light who maximized any opportunity to experience life and serve others, with impact and inspiration for all those blessed to interact with her. The St. Thomas More College (STM) community is grateful that Desirée’s journey included time with us.

Desirée was a proud alumna of STM (BA ’15). She valued the many opportunities that the College offered to engage with the world through relationship, service, and faith, as well as academic study.

During her time on campus, Desirée spent three years on the executive of the STM Students' Union (STMSU), serving as president, and additionally as student representative on the STM Board of Governors during 2012-13.

A graduate of Holy Cross High School, she was the recipient of the Les and Irene Dubé Service and Justice Award as well as a Greystone scholarship. Her participation in STM’s experiential learning Service and Justice Program proved to be an important aspect of her university learning and personal development. She also volunteered with L'Arche in Antigonish, NS through the Intercordia program, was a student employee of the Shannon library, and was often seen performing at STM coffee houses.

In 2015 Desirée earned a B.A. with High Honours in Political Studies with a minor in Social Justice and the Common Good through STM. In 2018 she added a J.D. with Distinction from the College of Law, USask. Desirée worked for nearly two years as a Crown Prosecutor in Regina.

Desirée remained connected to the College and in 2018 became a member-at-large for STM Corporation. She was presently in her second term, serving as chair of the Bylaw Committee.

STM Campus Ministry set up a shared file for memories of Desirée – some of these are relayed below. Please contact cwoloschuk@stmcollege.ca if you wish to contribute.

“If there is an ideal STM student, it must be Desirée. She connected deeply with our student union and with our programs that speak to the Catholic vision for a just society. As a person she was bright, energetic, and witty. Every conversation with her left you feeling uplifted. Desirée will never be forgotten by those of us who knew her, and she will remain an inspiration for us at STM.”  Carl Still, President, St. Thomas More College

“In her own insight and leadership, both at STM and beyond, Desirée was an embodiment of the Catholic Intellectual tradition at its best!”– Gertrude Rompré, Director of Mission and Ministry 

“Desirée represented STM at the Canadian Catholic Students Association conference. The light of Desirée’s faith always shone brightly to inspire students, staff, and faculty alike.   She was a kind and generous soul, and we are all better for knowing her.” - Michael MacLean, STM Campus Minister

“Desirée never failed to pose insightful questions that made apparent her wisdom and benefited the entire learning community. She has taught me, and I know many others, a great deal about Catholic traditions and principles connected to social justice and the common good.” Chris Hrynkow, Professor, Department of Religion and Culture and Co-Director Irene and Doug Schmeiser Centre for Faith, Reason, Peace, and Justice.

Shared by Desiree’s family:

Desirée's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anne's Parish, 217 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon, SK at 1:30 pm on Tuesday August 30, 2022.  At Desirée's request the Mass and subsequent eulogy will be livestreamed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89nxbjSHo38) for the benefit of those who cannot attend.

Desirée pursued an education that would equip her to make a difference in the world.  When she knew her time was short, she established the Desirée Hutton (née Steele) Legacy Fund to continue the work that was so important to her by helping to remove barriers for marginalized students, including those in the first generation of their family to seek post-secondary education.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Desirée's Legacy Fund (https://sscf.ca/desiree-hutton-legacy-fund/).