Joan Stevens

Joan Stevens Obituary

JOAN MARIE STEVENS (WARD), BANGOR – On the morning of Tuesday, May 31, 2016, Joan Marie Ward Stevens passed away surrounded by her loving husband, adoring five children and her wonderful family at the Eastern Maine Medical Center located in Bangor, ME as a result of a pulmonary embolism and ensuing complications. Joannie was still beautiful at 76 years old.
Joannie was born on June 27, 1939 in Brewer, ME, the daughter of John Joseph Ward, Jr. and Helen Melora (Storman) Ward. She graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Class of 1957. Joannie married Donald Duane Stevens on October 24, 1964 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Bangor, ME. Joannie and Don are the proud parents of five surviving children: Kathleen Suzanne Stevens Rosa (Augusto Rosa), Mark Riley Stevens, Christopher Sean Stevens, Julie Beth Stevens Lawhead (Joel Lawhead) and Erin Theresa Stevens. Joannie is the eldest of four siblings and predeceased sister of John Joseph Ward III, Jean Mary Ward Vardamis and James Raymond Ward. She was also the very proud Grandmother of nine amazing Grandchildren: André Augusto Stevens-Rosa, Piér Paolo Stevens-Rosa, Geneva Luisa Stevens-Rosa, Luca Donovan Stevens-Rosa, Claire Danielle Stevens, Lauren Elizabeth Lawhead, William Riley Lawhead, Lillie Anne Lawhead and Elaina Marin Lawhead. Joannie also leaves behind an extended loving family and many friends, all of whom she loves very much.
Joannie and Don enjoyed the travelling life of being a United States Air Force family. Each of their fab five children were born at a different base, in a different state. At the core of all that travel was Joannie who always kept the family together and focused. Through retirement and successive travel, Joannie always kept a constant in having a true home base for her kids and family in a summer home at Lucerne-in-Maine. She was the foundation of over four decades of family memories at The Lucerne Beach Club. While always the picture of grace and a strong motherly love, it was important to Joannie that her kids knew their grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. Joannie did more than light up every room that she entered, she lit up every life that she touched.
Friends may gather with the family from 6-8 PM, Sunday, June 5, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. A Funeral Mass will be held 11 AM, Monday, June 6, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall, following the Funeral Mass. Funeral Prayers and the Rite of Committal will be prayed 2 PM, Tuesday, June 7, at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet at the cemetery entrance, Ohio Street at 1:45 PM. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.BrookingsSmith.com.