Gwenn Steins

Gwenn L. Steins
Gwenn L. (Hilburn) Steins, was born in Easton, PA on August 18, 1941 and died peacefully in her home in Los Angeles, CA on June 1, 2012, with her husband at her bedside. Gwenn was 70 years old and had been diagnosed four months earlier with stage IV cancer of the kidney which had metastasized and for which there presently is no cure. She faced death with a great deal of equanimity and calm assurance that there is indeed life after death. Gwenn was the only child of vocalist Millicent Young Gold Hilburn (d. 2006) and orchestra owner Mark Hilburn, Jr. (d. 1975), both of Easton, PA, who moved to California in 1972. Gwenn, a 1959 graduate of Easton High School, received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from PSU in 1963 and her Masters degree in Sociology from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1965. Following marriage at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Easton, in September of 1965, Gwenn moved to Los Angeles, CA where she worked for 27 years in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), primarily as a District Deputy Director, in several welfare offices in Los Angeles; she retired in 1992. Gwenn was a wonderful, loving and supportive daughter, wife, mother and grandmother with a great sense of humor and a good friend to all who knew her. She enjoyed cooking, decorating the home for aLL holidays, shopping for and sending greeting cards, photography, music and buying gifts for her family. Gwenn was devoted to the Lutheran Church, in which she held numerous positions of leadership over a 50 year period. Gwenn was loved and will be missed. Survivors: Gwenn is survived and loved by her husband of 46 years, Joseph C. Steins; two sons and their wives; and five grandchildren, all of California; also four first cousins, Betty Jane Dathe of Tatamy, Shirley Ann Hasking of Saylorsburg, Glenn Gold of Northampton and Dale Bishop of Nazareth, all in Pennsylvania. Services: Burial was at Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA on June 8, 2012. A memorial service was held on June 9, 2012 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, CA. Contributions: Charitable contributions may be made to St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403.