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Sidney Thomas Stephens 4th 1956 - 1985 Sidney Thomas Stephens 3rd 1929 - 2001 Poem Written By Ethel May Laking 1970
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| Sidney Thomas Stephens 4th (1956 - 1985) Died: 1985
'THE ROAD OF LIFE' As we travel along the road
of life Author Unknown
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Baseball In Heaven Hey mom do you know they
have baseball in heaven Author Russ Andersen
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Mark A Stephens (1959 - 1990)
'THE BOOK OF LIFE' The book of life's been
written Author Unknown
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Sidney Thomas Stephens 3rd (1929 - 2001)
I believe that it is not necessarily important who we are when we start out in life, but more importantly who we become as we travel through life. Some of us take a little longer than others to find the path that is right for us. Our father was one of those people, so it is at that point that I will begin. Dad met and married Linda, almost 20 years ago. Someone he could share his life with, someone he could love, and someone he wanted to grow old with. They enjoyed camping, hiking and canoeing. Linda, particularly enjoyed kayaking. Dad thought he would try his hand at kayaking last summer. Of course, he didn’t need any advice from Linda – He knew what to do as was evidenced by his yelling when he dumped the kayak and Linda found him floundering in three feet of water. Dad and Linda also shared a love for animals which they displayed through their past two dogs Amber and Shandi and their present dog Casey. I remember dad even rescuing a mouse off the street and carrying it home in a tin can. He released it under his shed because he felt it would be safe there. Dad told me once that he had a hard time saying what was in his heart. He said "He didn’t know why, only that he had been that way his whole life." He worked very hard at changing that. He worked very hard at developing good relationships with his children and grandchildren and for a man who didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, he learned that it wasn’t so hard to say "I love you." Dad was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2000. Following that, he had three surgeries in a ten-month period. Through all of this, he continued to camp, to hike whenever possible and to live his life to the best of his ability. He became a volunteer at Royal Victoria Hospital, where he worked at least twice a week. Even when he was sick, he would go to work and he didn’t give it up until he just couldn’t go anymore. He enjoyed his job, took pride in his job, and was thrilled with his new found friendships, especially Dodie and Sherri. Throughout Dad’s hospital stays, I was able to learn how well respected he was and how much he was liked by his fellow co-workers. Dad never gave up during his illness. His goal was to reach his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated May 12, 2001. In the weeks before his death, he spoke often of his parents and his sister Katherine, and of the various ways they had helped him throughout his life. He told me he was not afraid to die. He said it was the process of getting there that bothered him. He was more worried about the family he would leave behind, his wife especially. He continued to hope, he continued to fight, he continued to live until he just couldn’t do it anymore. He died peacefully on May 25th at 9:30pm, surrounded by his family who loved him. I will close with the words to a song that were written for him in January. We might have had a rocky past That part is true I learned that in spite of all I always loved you Our circumstances were different That’s how life can be We grew to know each other And set some feelings free Any problems we have had
We’ve worked hard to mend You’re not just my father You’re also my friend I’m glad that you’re my father No other one would do If I had my choice of all the dad’s I’d still pick you
Love Debbie, Kathie, Jerry, Jamie and Robbie.
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Written by Cindy Lawson (Stephens) Great Grandmother, Ethel May Laking (1970)
I would rather have one little rose, from the garden of my friends, than to have the choicest flower when my stay on earth must end. I would rather have the kindly words, which may be said to me, than to be flattered when my heart is stiff and this life has ceased to be. I would rather have a loving smile from the friends I know are true, than tears shed around my casket when this world I've bid adieu. Bring me all your flowers to-day, whether white, pink, blue or red. I would rather have one blossom now than a truck load when I'm dead.
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