Mary Ellen Stephens

1954 - 2022

Mary Ellen Stephens
June 27, 1954 - May 23, 2022
Fremont
Fremont resident Mary (Rispaud) Stephens died May 23, 2022 of bile duct cancer.
Mary was born June 27, 1954 in Santa Cruz, CA, the second of six children born to Bob and Gwen Rispaud.
Mary would describe her childhood as the quintessential mid-century, middle-class suburban upbringing. Blocking off the street for day long wiffle ball games and kick-the-can, long hikes through Henry Cowell State Park, 4-H, backyard barbeques, Friday night football games, Saturday morning chores, and Sunday morning Mass. Summer vacation was always a road trip to Montana, where Mary's mother was born and raised, and where Mary's maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins all still lived.
Mary graduated from Harbor High School in Santa Cruz in 1972, and from the College of Great Falls (now University of Providence) in Great Falls, Montana in 1976. Homesick for the Bay Area, Mary returned to Santa Cruz seeking to find a job in public service. In 1980, college friend Tom Stephens was transferred from Montana to the Bay Area for his work, and the two friends reunited. Friendship turned to love, and the two were married on Mary's birthday in 1981. They would have two children together, Daniel and Megan. In 1986, Mary began her career with the County of Santa Clara, rising from a staff analyst position to the role of Executive County Budget Director. She retired in 2014. Mary's hobbies included cooking, travel, especially road trips with Tom, jigsaw puzzles, poker, and wine tasting. But mostly, Mary loved to read. She belonged to a book group comprised of friends and colleagues from the County for nearly 30 years. The women in this group would constitute Mary's best friends.
Mary is survived by her beloved husband Tom, her son Daniel (Lindsay Nakata), two adored grandsons, Wyatt and Cooper Stephens, and her daughter Megan.
She is also survived by five siblings, Joe (Cindy) Rispaud, Sue (Nick) Testa, Julia (Joe) Mnuk, John Rispaud, and Mark (Lisa) Rispaud.
Visitation will be held at Sorensen Chapel, Hayward on June 15, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 pm (with rosary at 5:30 pm). Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Fremont on June 16, 2022 at 10:30 am. Masks and proof of COVID vaccination will be required for all services.


View the online memorial for Mary Ellen Stephens