Mary E. Stephens

Mary E. Stephens MARION–Mary E. Stephens, 88, of Marion passed away at 2:40 PM, Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Fountains Nursing Home in Marion. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Earl Heberer officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mrs. Stephens was born on January 28, 1920 in Marion, Illinois to Robert Byron and Stella (Grant) Penn. She married Jay Stephens on August 21, 1937 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He preceded her in death on January 30, 1984. Together they shared 46 years of marrage. Survivors include her son, Edward Stephens of Florence South Carolina; son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Iretta Stephens of Marion; grandchildren, Howard II and Nicole Stephens, Anthony and Dyana Stephens, Vanessa and Anthony Holan, Ronna Dugdale, Diane Treen, Michael Stephens, William Stephens, and Jaye-Lynn Crawford; Great-grandchildren, Austin and Mason Stephens, Alex and Madelyn Stephens, Hanna, Toni Jo, Graci Holan, Cariane Shaw, Sonia Treen, Matthew Stephens, Joshua Stephens, Peter Stephens, Jeremy Stephens, Dawn Carderelli, Thomas Crawford; great-great-grandchildren, Ramo Carderelli, Rachael Carderelli, and Codi Shaw. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jay Stephens; brothers Kenneth Penn and Robert Penn. Mrs. Stephens was a Bible Student and member of Third Baptist Church. She worked as the Assistant Director of the Marion Ministerial Alliance. She also worked at the homeless shelter where she touched many lives.