NORWICH – Lillian B. “Lonnie” Stevens, 73, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, went home to be with the Lord on Thurs., Nov. 27, 2008, at her home, with her family.
One of the seven daughters of Darwin and Marion (Sayles) Bates, Lonnie was born in Pharsalia in March of 1935. She attended school in South Plymouth and later graduated from Norwich High School with the Class of 1952. Right out of high school, Lonnie went to work for the Norwich Pharmacal Company, but was there only a short time. On Jan. 19, 1957, at the Broad St. United Methodist Church, she married Max Stevens. Lonnie worked for approximately 5 years for Jim Nolan in his insurance office, then took some time off to raise her family. In Sept. of 1973, she began her last employment, with the National Bank and Trust Company of Norwich. She retired at the end of March, 1995, as executive secretary to Everett Gilmour.
A woman of great faith, Lonnie was also a woman who became involved in things that were important to her. During her children’s school years, she would attend and support any and all of their sports activities and skating programs. She was especially proud of her work on behalf of the Plymouth Historical Society, where she was instrumental in saving the Plymouth depot building in 1976. She and Max enjoyed antiques and liked going to the shows and sales in Bouckeville, and Lonnie also enjoyed going to the casinoes as often as she could.
Lonnie is survived by her husband. Max Stevens of Norwich; her children: Kelly Law and husband Kenneth, and Patrick Stevens, all of Norwich; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Retha and Donald Munch of Silver Creek, Cheryl and Howard Franklin of Preston, Barbara and Ronald Ross of Chesapeake Bay, and Brenda and Brad Wood of Bristow, Va. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Riley Ho and husband Richard of Avon, and Challen Law, Padraic Law, and Mia Stevens, all of Norwich; by her great grandson, Austin Ho; and by nieces and nephews. Lonnie was predeceased by her son, Kris Max Stevens in 1957; and by her sisters, Beverly Rehberg and Phyllis Guilmette.
Memorial services for Lonnie will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday from the Broad St. United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jeff Hale, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Plymouth Historical Society, c/o Betty Bates, 516 County Road 29, Norwich, NY 13815; to Hospice and Palliative Care ofChenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to the Broad St. United Methodist Church, 74 North Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815.
Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.