Kathleen Stevens

Kathleen M. Stevens

1941-2010 BENNINGTON Kathleen Marie Stevens, 68, a resident of Beech Street, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at Albany, N.Y. Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Born in Bennington, Vt., on Dec. 19, 1941, the daughter of the late Charles Casper and Lillian McIntire Gates, she attended Bennington schools. She graduated from Bennington High School, class of 1959, and from Southern Vermont College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, class of 1996.

In her earlier years, Kathleen worked for Union Carbide, Fienberg's Department Store in Bennington, and the Department of Social Services.

Kathleen loved to play bingo and enjoyed on-line poker and horse racing. She enjoyed cooking, and her main interest was spending time with her family. She was a caregiver first and foremost. Kathleen also enjoyed spending time at the Pownal Senior Center.

Kathleen leaves her children, Timothy Bortell and his wife, Bernice, of Bennington, Michael Bortell and his wife, Kristina, of Bennington, Kenneth Bortell of Middlebury, Vt., Terrance Bortell and his fiancé, Lisa Ellis, of Bennington, Tracy Stevens and his wife, Amanda, of Manchester, Vt., Gene Stevens II of Bennington, and Patricia Jones and her fiancé, Mansie Perry, of Bennington; her brother, Randy Gates and his wife, Sue, of Pownal; her sisters, Susan Russell and her husband, Elwood, of Maricopa, Ariz., Janice Bushee and her husband, John, of Pownal, and Melinda Onorato and her husband, Pasquale, of Williamstown, Mass.; her former husband and lifelong companion, Gene Stevens of Pownal; ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her brother, Herbert Gates, who died in 1966.

MEMORIAL NOTICE: A celebration of the life of Kathleen Marie Stevens will be held Wednesday afternoon, May 5, 2010 at 1 p.m. at HANSON-WALBRIDGE FUNERAL HOME, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT. Interment will be in the family lot in Towslee Cemetery in Pownal. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be held Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., two hours prior to the service when the family will be in attendance.

If friends desire, memorial gifts in Kathleen's memory may be made to the Kathleen M. Stevens Memorial Fund, c/o Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 957, Bennington, VT 05201. For directions or to send the family personal email condolences, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, Vt.