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Frances E. Stevens

Date of Death: May 23, 2017

Date of Birth: June 12, 1937

Biography:

YARMOUTH – Frances E. Stevens, 79, passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer on May 23, 2017. She was born on June 12, 1937 in East Winn, Maine, the daughter of Robert Hessel and Estella Estes Smith. She graduated from Lee Academy in 1957 and was married to Roger L. Stevens on July 30, 1958. Fran and Roger settled in Lincoln, where they lived together for 29 years until his death in 1990. She worked for many years in a variety of jobs in the Lincoln area to help support her family and served as the bakery and deli manager at Lounsbury's Shop-n-Save in Lincoln prior to her retirement. For the last two decades of her life, she moved to the southern Maine area to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Fran was a hard worker and selfless individual who dedicated her life to giving her time and talents to assist other people. She was highly energetic and felt comfortable conversing with other people. As a young woman, she served on the gubernatorial campaign of Edmund S. Muskie and was also a member of the Lincoln Democratic Women's Club. Fran was a proud communicant at St. Hugh-of-Lincoln Episcopal Church and was always the first to volunteer to help with church fundraisers. For several years, she served on the church council and as the treasurer of that organization. She also volunteered her time at Mt. Jefferson Junior High School in Lee for many years as her husband's office assistant.

More recently, upon moving to southern Maine she found a home and new friends at the Freeport Community Center, where she worked nearly forty hours per week serving the people at the Freeport Food Pantry, or as it was known locally, the "Frantry". One of the proudest moments of her life was being recognized by Freeport Community Services in 2009 with the prestigious Carol Kaplan Memorial Community Service Award for embodying the spirit of that organization and for having a positive impact on the association's clients.

Fran enjoyed spending her time doing a number of different activities, such as cooking, canning, knitting, gardening, and taking day trips to various destinations along the Maine coast. She enjoyed following and offering commentary on current events and was a big fan of the show "Survivor". Most importantly, she was a dedicated mother and grandmother who supported her children's and grandchildren's activities. In particular, she enjoyed attending her grandson Victor's and granddaughter Hannah's cross country and track meets and the musical and dramatic performances in which they took part.

She was predeceased by her husband Rev. Roger L. Stevens, her sister Clara Libby, brothers Gordon and Frank Smith, niece Vickie Libby True, and several brothers and sisters-in-law. She is survived by her daughter Jean Skorapa and her husband Victor of Freeport; her son Gary Stevens and his wife Ida of Steep Falls; her grandchildren Victor Skorapa IV of San Jose, California and Hannah Skorapa of Freeport; sisters-in-law Sylvia Harmon of Berwick and Sally Stevens of Sanford; and several nieces and nephews. She had a special relationship with her niece Earlene Young and her husband John of Lincoln, who gave her great love and support, particularly in her later years.

Fran's family extends a special thank you to the staff of the Hawthorne House in Freeport for their care and support of her needs in the last weeks of her life.

A celebration of Fran's life will take place at the Freeport Community Center on Sunday, May 28 at 1:00 PM. A committal ceremony will occur at Lincoln Cemetery on Saturday, June 3 at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking Fran's friends to make a donation to the Freeport Food Pantry in her honor, 53 Depot Street, Freeport Maine, 04032.