Louisa, Virginia
Gladys Irene Stevens
Our beautiful mother, Gladys Irene Stevens, passed from this life on Friday, January 7, 2011.
She was born in Australia, on June 14, 1923, and came to America as a war bride after marrying Edwin Paul Stevens, who served in the United States Air Force. She proudly served in the Australian Woman's Army during the World War II.
Mom loved life and taught us how to celebrate all that life has to offer. Her hands were made to create, she sewed, knitted and crocheted, made lace and canned chairs. Our dinner table expanded to welcome whoever came to the door. Mom loved all growing things. She gardened and delighted in the birds that came, like small children, to her feeders.
She was loved by people of all ages; a testament to her open heart and the ability to find goodness and common ground in all. She loved the gentle teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn, mediated, practiced yoga and tai chi and sang with sufis.
Mom will be greatly missed and remembered by her three daughters, Judy Alderon, Jeri Kastner and her husband, Ted, and Anne Stevens; her grandchildren, Kylie and Dane Alderson, Jessica Kastner, Sara Rose Schmidt and John Schmidt; four great-grandchildren, Allen, Jake, Darren and Tristan; and of course her beloved dog, "Honey".
Her family in Australia and so many wonderful, caring friends will miss her and treasure her memory.
We will miss you, mom, but our hearts will awaken with the passing of winter and find you in the blossom of spring.
This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.
I still miss and talk about Chic - and pass on things she taught me .. I just returned from my first visit to Australia and would love to have talked with her about it. I hope she has seen my own Edwin, who died so suddenly almost 15 months ago
Chic - you are forever missed - but I enjoy keeping my friendship with your granddaughter Jess
Anne Blackwell-Collons
January 24, 2023 | Boonton, NJ | Friend
Chic - I think of you often, I regularly share some of your wisdom, and I still miss seeing you and chattingyou had a very special place in my life. Thank you
Anne Blackwell-Collins
January 24, 2022 | Boonton, NJ | Friend
Your Mum was a client, but also a sweet dear women. I will miss talking to her on the phone. She was a pleasure to work with. Her family is so blessed to have had her in their lives for so many years.
Susan Mihok
February 08, 2011 | Wharton, NJ
The Silver Lining
Chic has always been a wonderful part of my life, I can not remember a time in my life when she was not there. I miss her very much and so does my family.
She was such a terrific travel companion! She would travel every summer with the 4 kids and my Mom. She taught us so much about nature camping and and swimming in the ocean. I remember always walking in the surf with her looking for shells really early in the morning, because that was the best time to find the most beautiful of...
Lisa Van Fleet/Sanfilippo
February 05, 2011 | Chapel Hill, NC
My dear aunty Glayds in America. She was my mother's (June Drew) older sister. As a child, I remember receiving large boxes in the mail from the other side of the world, filled with beautiful clothes from dear aunty Gladys. One in particular when I was about 8, was a yellow party dress with a full skirt and puffy sleeves, covered with yellow wattle flowers. I felt like a princess when I wore it. Through my school years, aunty Gladys was my "pen friend" and we exchanged long letters. When I...
Debby Snape
February 01, 2011 | Sydney, Australia
Chic became a mixture of a friend and a "mum" to me.....i met her shortly after i moved from Scotland to the USA. She came with me to choose my wedding dress...and she taught me how to tie the laces on my running shoes so that they didnt come undone, but untied easily........
She was a teeny little thing who was so interested in every aspect of your life, loved to share the muffins she made, loved to walk, and loved life. I miss her.
She also introduced me to one of her...
Anne Blackwell-Collins
January 31, 2011 | Boonton, NJ
We loved Granny Gladys so much. She was a wonderful story teller of all her adventures and a great hostess that would delight in feeding you as you sat at her table.My children adored her.When my boys met her,Gladys was taller than them but in the last few years they sprouted so they always got so excited to stand next to her as they grew taller than her. Gladys was very generous to my children and my husband and I. We appreciate her and will miss her so much.She was very loved and I'm so...
Lori Madison
January 31, 2011 | Palmyra, VA
What a wonderful young mother Gladys Stevens was! She loved children and doing for her children. She was an enthusiastic Girl Scout leader...and was the mom to get to ride with. Tooling around in her Willys Jeep was a wonderful memory. She had a smile for all and the patience of a saint. She was an outstanding model in my childhood. May she now find everlasting peace.
Barbara Scully Liston
January 30, 2011 | Cheverly, MD
