Joan M. Stevens

Joan Marie Stevens, 85, passed away peacefully late on Saturday, July 6, in her sleep at Saint Joseph Hospital in Mishawaka after a brief and sudden illness. She had been undergoing physical therapy at Healthwin since mid April. Joan was born on October 20, 1927 in South Bend, the daughter of Rudy & Nellie (Mansfield) Goepfrich. She grew up on Cleveland Ave, attending Holy Cross grade school and graduating from Saint Joseph Academy in 1945. She was the eldest of four children and is survived by her 3 siblings: Charles (Shirley) Goepfrich of Mishawaka, Helen (Tom) Collins of Mishawaka and Bonita Springs, FL and Margaret (Leo -deceased) Zmudzinski of South Bend. Joan married Don Steszewski (surname anglicized to Stevens in 1965) on July 5, 1947. Don grew up just around the corner from Joan, on Vassar Ave. They were married after Don was discharged from the marines, where he served in the Pacific during WWII. Don & Joan lived in Hawthorne, California for two years while Don attended the Northrup Institute on Technology and obtained an engineering degree, which he used to secure employment at Bendix Corp in South Bend. Joan had a short career as a legal secretary, but gave it up to raise her family on Brookfield Street , where they resided for a half century. In 2000, after all the children were grown, Joan & Don moved to their new home in Arbor Pointe. Don passed away in 2002. Joan remained here until her death. Joan was a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church and participated in the Rosary Altar Society and served as a Eucharistic minister. She sang in the funeral choir. Joan was very active until the onset of her illness. For many years she regularly attended local dances. She often earned Christmas spending money working at the downtown Fannie May candy store. She did volunteer work at Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed visiting and socializing with her many friends. Among the closest, with whom she regularly "hung out" were Joanne Kujawski , Judy Reid, Jackie Hoffman, Eileen Wrobleski and Bud Connors . She also loved to watch old classic movies. One humorous anecdote: Joan was an avid NASCAR fan. Her favorite driver was Jeff Gordon and her least favorite, Jimmie Johnson. When talking about race results she would bemoan those frequent occasions when Jimmie won saying "That darn Jimmie Johnson!" As she was drifting in and out of consciousness on her final day the NASCAR race was on the hospital room TV. Possible race winners were being discussed and Joan commented, "Anybody but Jimmie Johnson!" These were her last words before slipping into unconsciousness. The clincher – Jimmie Johnson won. Six children survive: James Allen (Pam), born 1949, of Memphis, TN, Judith Ann (Bob Singleton) Black, born 1953, of South Bend, David Wayne, born 1954, Edward Paul, born 1957, Richard Allen (Jeannie), born 1960, of South Bend, and Thomas Allen, born 1962. Five grandchildren also survive: Luke Stevens, born 1976, of Santa Clara, CA, Joanna Stevens, born 1978, of Orlando, FL, Erin Black (Adam Blacketter), born 1980, of Granger, Brittany Stevens, born 1990, of South Bend and Hailey Stevens, born 1993, of South Bend. Two great-grandchildren, Chloe and Tyler Blacketter, survive. Many nephews and nieces also survive. Joan's nephew, Father Chuck Zmudzinski will be officiating at the funeral in accordance with her wishes. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana. To send condolences online, please visit Kaniewski.com.