Dorothy Stephansen

Dorothy Stephansen passed away June 15, 2015 at the age of 84.   Dorothy was married to her husband Bob for 64 years.   She is survived by her husband Bob, her children Bob (Marcia) Stephansen, Pat (Bill) Fiori, Ron (Debbie) Stephansen, Barb (Glen) Pledge, and Rich (Vickie) Stephansen and her brother Edwin (Lucille) Sytko.   Proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild,  1 niece and 1 nephew.  Preceded in death by her parents Walter and Gertrude Sytko, her sister Irene and her brother Eugene.  Mom grew up in the Catholic faith and together with Dad instilled in her children the importance of faith, a belief in God and the importance of church.  With Dad working hard to provide for his family, Mom was the matriarch of the family and us kids did as we were told.   Together with Dad they instilled in us a sense of family, values, traditions and honesty that manifested in how the entire family cared for her in the home during her four month battle with brain cancer.   Mom leaves us with many fond memories.  Her laugh was infectious.  Often when she started laughing it grew and grew to the point it took her breath away, and it would lead to everyone laughing.  She was a talented baker who made pancakes and Polish sausage fought over by everyone.  Christmas time was dozens of cookies and in the Spring made Easter lamb.   It was not unusual for Mom to be up at 3am prepping mid day dinner.   Going to a family gathering always meant arriving with a food dish.  Her sewing skills lead her to helping make hundreds and hundreds of comic book and action figure themed surgical caps for pediatric patients.   Along with her girls she put together many blankets for the sick and military veterans.   Mom together with Dad looked forward to Friday night game night with the kids, and spent some of their retirement years  working together on hundreds of jigsaw puzzles.  Mom modeled the importance of being accepting of and caring for others.  She welcomed young and old alike into the home.  Along with Dad they reached out to the elderly and the sick in their community.   Mom always had a relationship with the church, and together with Dad was involved for many years in various ministries in their church.  During her battle with cancer, Mom fought with courage and grace, enjoying her favorite music from polkas, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra.   Our family asks that any donations be directed either to St. Hugh Church in Lyons, Il.  Or Adventist St. Thomas Hospice of Hindsdale, Il.     

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