Stephen L. Stevens, of West Newbury, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2012 having been in declining health.
He was born at home in Somerville on December 10, 1923 to Alexandria (Panarity) and Lucas Stevens who emigrated from Albania. He went to the Prescott School and graduated from Somerville High School in 1942. Mr. Stevens worked at the Watertown Arsenal as a spindle drill press operator until enlisting in the United States Army in April, 1943. He proudly served his country in the 881st Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company. His campaigns included Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley prior to being honorably discharged in December, 1945. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon. When he returned from military service, Mr. Stevens continued his father’s grocery store business, Steve’s Variety, which was across from the Prescott School. In 1953 he married Genevieve Chala from Natick.
Dad was a very smart and clever man. He was always reading, learning how machines worked, designing and building structures, and could make and fix anything. He truly enjoyed working for J. Homestock and then Levitz Furniture in Danvers as a forklift mechanic and also maintained all of the forklifts for all of their Massachusetts stores.
In 1986 he moved to West Newbury. Even though he was a city boy, he loved living in the country.
Mr. Stevens lost the love of his life, Genevieve, to cancer in 2005.
He is survived by his daughter Stephanie who would like to thank Seaview Retreat Nursing Home in Rowley, MA for their care and attention to her dad during these last three months of his life.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) NATICK on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:00 AM. The Very Rev. Arthur Liolin, Chancellor will officiate. Burial will follow at Dell Park Cemetery, Natick. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 2-5 PM.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg 5, Lawrence, MA 01843; Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg 9, Lawrence, MA 01843; or Veterans Services of Ipswich, 25 Green St. Ipswich, MA 01938