Agnes E. Stephanian

STEPHANIAN, Agnes E. Agnes E. Stephanian, 78, of Simsbury, formerly of West Hartford, died Friday (January 9, 2009) at her home. She was the wife of the late Michael Stephanian. Born in Middleboro, MA, the daughter of the late Walter E. and Ethel (McCreedy) Alger, she grew up in Middleboro and attended Colby College in Maine until marrying Michael Stephanian in 1949. She joined her husband at Bates College and became an honorary member of the Class of 1951. They moved to West Hartford in 1955 and raised a family. Agnes returned to school when her children were grown and finished her degree at Tunxis Community College. She took a position with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and later Cedarcrest Hospital in Newington, retiring in the late 1980's. She was an avid bridge player, Bruins fan, and quilter, and enjoyed playing tennis with her husband and son. She served as a volunteer, driving people to their doctor's appointments, and frequently made pheresis and blood donations to assist leukemia patients. Leukemia took her husband's life in 1991. Later in life, Agnes traveled extensively on annual trips that took her around the world. She lived the last four years in the McLean Village in Simsbury, where she enjoyed walking, new friends and being a part of the McLean community. She was predeceased by her brother, Walter Alger, and half sisters Priscilla Morse, Ellen Hanson, Ruth Wallin, and half brother Richard Alger. She leaves a sister, Georgina and her husband Harold Mikoleit; two children, Stephen Stephanian and his wife Peggy of Simsbury, and Michelle Dilts of Northampton, MA; three grandchildren Aaron and Corey Dilts and Courtney Emery and her husband Tim; two great-grandchildren, Brennan and Phoebe Emery, and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 14th, 10 a.m. at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main Street, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Calling hours will be Wednesday one hour prior to the service from 9-10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, 06111 or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 300 Research Parkway, Suite 310, Meriden, CT 06450.