Diane Irene Stephen's Obituary
Diane Irene (Dittman) Stephen, 68, a resident of Big Rapids, Michigan for 34 years, died on Thursday October 14, 2010. She had a life full of rewarding work as a teacher, librarian, mother and wife. Dianes father died when she was 8 years old, and she and her sister were raised by her mother. Diane received a B.A. with honors from Michigan State University in 1964 with a mathematics major and social science minor. In 1975, she earned a Masters in Library Science from Wayne State University. Diane worked for 15 years for Reed City Public Schools as a librarian and math teacher. She was dedicated to encouraging young people to take on challenges especially in math and problem solving and served many years as coach for the Odyssey of the Mind club at Reed City High School. Earlier in her career, she balanced family commitments with professional work as a nutrition librarian for the State of Michigan to promote healthy diets for children and as Director of Christian Education for her church. She was an active volunteer in the community with Recycle Mecosta, the Big Rapids Food Coop, AAUW, the Wesley House and more. In 1989, she was selected as Mecosta Countys Woman of the Year. She was a member of the United Church of Big Rapids from 1976 to the present, where she served as librarian, founder and leader of the Youth Club, church school teacher and on numerous committees. Diane was an avid reader, a locavore and organic gardener. She was strong and adventurous and enjoyed summer travels across the United States and Canada, camping, gardening, her church book group, fresh fruits and vegetables, bicycling on Rails-to-Trails, hiking, cross-country skiing, baking bread, cooking from scratch, planting trees, picking wild strawberries, hunting for agates, canoeing, playing Quiddler and knitting. Survivors include beloved husband of 47 years Donald Stephen of Big Rapids; her children Linda Stephen and husband Masaya Honda of Lincoln, Neb., and Julia Stephen and husband Daniel Hadlich of Albuquerque, N.M.; and three grandchildren Solana and Sage Honda and Keira Hadlich. ? The family would like to thank the nurses, aides and staff at Altercare of Big Rapids for their loving care of Diane over the past year. The family would also like to thank the ongoing support of dear neighbors and friends over the past few years. Visitation Monday October 18 from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Mohnke Funeral Home 128 South Warren Avenue, Big Rapids. Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday October 19 at 11 a.m. ?at the United Church of Big Rapids, 120 S. State Street, Big Rapids with Pastor John Fleming officiating. Luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Association for Frontal Temporal Dementias online at http://www.ftd.org. or by mail to AFTD, Radnor Station Building 2 Suite 320, 290 King Of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087
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