Helen E. Stevens
November 26, 1908 - September 28, 2011
Obituary
Helen died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 28, 2011 at the age of 102. She was the youngest of 8 children born to Blanche and Ignatius Zavadil. She was raised in Humphrey Nebraska and graduated from Humphrey High School in 1926. She married Raymond L. Stevens on Dec. 9, 1927 at Sacred Heart Church in Newton, Iowa. They made their home in Kellogg, Iowa, where they raised two sons, Gene and Larry. In 1941 the family moved to Seattle. When Ray became ill with MS, Helen went to work at Boeing. She also worked briefly as a short order cook. For 25 years she decorated cakes at Marvin’s Bakery on Beacon Hill. She carefully guarded the recipe of their famous custard icing. Helen enjoyed gardening and sewing and was an excellent cook. She was thrifty, practical and had a wry sense of humor. Helen was an avid sports fan, following closely the early years of SU basketball, the Seattle Rainiers and Seattle Mariners. She lived in her home on Beacon Hill for over 70 years until she was 101. It was the center of family life for 4 generations of the Stevens family. Helen was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church for 65 years. Her strong Catholic faith was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be missed by many whose lives she touched.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her beloved husband of 69 years, Ray, her son Gene, and her daughter-in -law Miriam Stevens. She is survived by her son Larry Stevens, her 8 grandchildren, Lee Stevens, Cathy Arthur (Joseph), Sue Johnson (Bruce), Claudia DeVick (Jeff), Mark Stevens (Kelly), Mike Stevens (Tina), Jeff Stevens (Misty), Jill Maesner (Ron), 11 great grandchildren, 24 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation 4:00-6:00pm, followed by Vigil Service 6:30pm Oct. 7 Bonney-Watson Chapel, 1732 Broadway, Seattle; Funeral Mass 10am Sat.Oct. 8, St. Peter Catholic Church, 2807 15th Ave. S, Seattle; followed by a reception at 3115 17th Ave. S.; and Interment at 1:30 pm Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th Seattle . Donations may be made in her name to the charity of your choice.