In Memoriam : Joan Stephanak

Joan Stephanak Joan Leonard Stephanak - age: 75
(December 17, 1936 to July 31, 2012 )
Resident of Westport, Connecticut

Visitation Information:
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday August, 6th 2012, 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery, Richards Ave., Norwalk. Friends may call at the Magner Funeral, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk Sunday August, 5th 2012 3 to 7 pm. Memorials may be made to the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital, 24 Stevens St., 06854 or to the William F. Stephanak, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Fairfield Prep. 1037 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, 06824.

Obituary:
Joan Leonard Stephanak, the wife of Dr. William F. Stephanak, DDS, and mother of two sons and two daughters, lost her courageous battle after a four and a half year battle with ovarian cancer on July 31st, 2012. She was 75. Joan was a native of Norwalk, until a recent move to Westport. Mrs. Stephanak was a vivaciously beautiful woman with an easy smile and a great appreciation for fun and good humor. An ever-engaging redhead, Mrs. Stephanak was an excellent conversationalist; someone you hoped to be put next to at a dinner party. She was a gracious hostess who put her many friends and guests at ease. Joan enjoyed many nail-biting tennis matches and rounds of golf at the Shorehaven Golf Club, where she was a member for 43 years. While she wasn't a perennial champion, she enjoyed success in both sports. She and her husband were a mixed doubles combination in the net game where she was remembered for leading impressive comebacks. Her most notable achievement on the links was at the club in 2002, where she was thrilled to win the Sudman Cup, awarded to women playing to their full handicaps. Joan was the youngest of three daughters of the late John H. and Lillian Curren Leonard. She was an alumna of St. Mary's School and of Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford. As far as her higher education is concerned, Mrs. Stephanak received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Manhattanville College in 1958. Joan later returned to St Mary's School, teaching fourth grade after her marriage to Dr. Stephanak, a surgical resident at Bellevue Hospital at the time. Joan and Bill had known each other since childhood, but did not start dating until she had reached college. They married on July 12, 1958, and they toasted each each other again on that date this year after 54 years! Also raising glasses that day were Dr. Albert V. Burke, MD, and his wife, Norma Carlson Burke who wed on the same day. The two couples had met by chance on a plane to Bermuda several hours after their weddings and en route to their honeymoons. They became lifelong friends, marking their annual wedding anniversaries together. Mrs. Stephanak also served many years on the Women’s Board of Norwalk Hospital. As a committed board member, Joan devoted her time to The Treasure House, the hospital's thrift shop. With their keen eye for style and design, she, along with her dear friend, Mary Gallagher, created fantastic window displays that surely brought in many customers.
Mrs. Stephanak is survived by her daughters Susan Stephanak Bell (Stuart) of Southport and Joan Stephanak Shanley (Thomas) of Fairfield; her son, Brian J. Stephanak (Rosamond Koether) of Westport; seven grandchildren -- Curren Bell, Kylie Bell, Ian Bell, Tucker Shanley, Jane Shanley, Dobson Cooper and Shane Cooper. Sisters Roberta Leonard Jones (Robert Jones) and Nancy Leonard O’Connor (the late Dr. Jeremiah O’Connor, DDS,) Liz Vereha (the family's lifelong friend) several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her son William F. Stephanak, Jr. in 1980.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday August, 6th 2012, 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery, Richards Ave., Norwalk. Friends may call at the Magner Funeral, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk Sunday August, 5th 2012 3 to 7 pm. Memorials may be made to the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital, 24 Stevens St., 06854 or to the William F. Stephanak, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Fairfield Prep. 1037 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, 06824.







Betty & Gus Cappadona - August 2, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Hi Bill, Betty & I were so sorry to hear about Joan. Rose Kirouac has been keeping us up to date and its obvious Joan fought a long hard battle, it has to have been tough for both of you. For obvious reasons we won't be able to make the funeral but please accept our deepest condolences and know we will be thinking of you both. Gus Cappadona


Nancy L Quinn - August 3, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Dear Dr. Stephanak, Susan, Joan and Brian and all of your families. I always loved your mom....She was the greatest! So beautiful... always happy and smiling! What fun times we had at Shorehaven growing up! I am glad she had all of you near by.... My thoughts and prayers are with you all. What a great picture! That is just how I remember her. Sorry I could not be there in person. Please accept my deepest condolences. ~ Nancy (Khachian) Quinn


Mary Herold Kindle - August 4, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Dr. Stephanak, Susan, Joan and Brian, My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Your wife/mom was a very special lady. Her smile, laugh and sense of humor was always a pleasure to be around. I have such fond memories of her personally as well as many involving our parents together. The picture above is perfect and exactly how I will always remember her! May God bless you and your families with peace and strength during this very difficult time. Mary Kindle


Ed and Carol Meyer - August 6, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Bill, We were very sad to hear of Joan's passing, and know she bore a lot of pain and suffering like the trooper that she always was. We hope you are doing OK under the circumstances and know how very close you two must have been after all the years you were together. We had planned on being at the Mass this morning but circumstances prevented it. Hope you and the family know that all of you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Our Love, Ed and Carol Meyer


Tom Church - August 6, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Dear Dr. Stephanak, Susan, Joan and Brian: We are so very sorry to learn of your loss. Please know you have our deepest sympathy and hold you all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Sincerely, Tom, Arden & Mathew Church


Roy Ervin - August 7, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
Dear Bill: My wife, Joan, and I were so sorry to read about the loss of your wife, Joan. It is amazing how similar our life styles have been—honeymoon in Bermuda, four children, 7 grandchildren, tennis, golf and Prep '49. You were blessed to have a wonderful life together. Our deepest sympathy. Roy and Joan Ervin


Gregory Lyddy - August 10, 2012Contact this person Contact this person
My prayers are for you, Joan and your family.