Stephanie J. Mapes

With peace in her heart and her loved ones by her side, Stephanie Jill Mapes, age 65, peacefully put her angel wings on and sailed into her new life on January 6, 2026. She leaves her husband Scott Michael Mapes, son Scott Lennon Mapes and his fiancé Cosette Giroux, soon to be in-laws Jason and Siersha Giroux, Sister Diane Miller, her beloved guardian cat Skunk, Lennon's Godparents David and Diane Bahrenburg, many uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends.
The daughter of Benjamin and Dolores Miller, she grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and learned to ski in middle school. Her ski club took trips to Stowe and that's how she discovered that she belonged in Vermont. While a student at University of Delaware, she was drawn to one class: Economics and The Law. This led her to Vermont Law School where she met Scott. Eventually, she became the first female president at Paul, Frank & Collins where she stayed for her entire 35-year career. She was very involved in her legal community serving on the board of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association, the Champlain College Board of Trustees as well as serving on the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce board and Stephanie was involved with the Champlain College Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry. She introduced and educated her entire law firm on her appreciative inquiry approach - a positive, all-inclusive, non-hierarchical, collaborative style. At her retirement party, she declared she had entered "The Year of the Sloth," which in her words was so wonderful. "Just hanging back in the trees. Out of the fray. Still in tune but watching from a distance. Moving ever so slowly and deliberately. Hiking. Swimming. Yoga. Biking. Sitting on the beach. Sitting on the porch, or in the late afternoon breeze of nothing more than our own, beautiful backyard."
On October 1, 2024 Steph was diagnosed with HPV-inspired throat cancer. From that day forward, she said, "I am not going to let this illness define me. It is not going to become me, and I am not going to become it. It arrived as part of my path. To teach me and move me forward. But it needs to move on once it has served its purpose." Stephanie led a rich life and she leaves a profound impact on the world, captured in her words, "So many of us are asking today, how can we be happy and what can we do when so much is wrong in the world. It is so overwhelming. Well, what you say to yourself; what you see and envision becomes reality. If you keep searching for wrong, you will find it. But remember, the opposite is also true. If you seek what is right, in your body, your organizations and the world, you will find that too. It's out there. Don't deny yourself from seeing or finding it out of anger, bitterness or cynicism. Peace is every step. Each of us must become the flickering light that is needed to find our better future."
There are many people to thank especially over the last few years and over all the years, but we give a special thank you to our amazing community of witches, wizards and goddesses: Che' Schreiner, Nicole Smith, Piper Abbott, Emily Davidson, Montana Burns, Michelle Sabourin, Rick Kolodinsky, Diane Bahrenburg, Jill Badolato, Michael Lemnah and the tremendous team at Vermont Wellness Medicine and Integrative Oncology (Dr. Fresh), and the wonderful care team at UVM Oncology (Dr. Kahn) and UVM Hospice and Dr. Haddad at Dana-Farber.
At Stephanie's request there will be no formal services at this time, she asked for a springtime memorial service. In the meantime to honor Stephanie, please remember to laugh today, be kind, and be peace. If you wish to make a contribution in Stephanie's honor, please consider donating to: the International Campaign for Tibet, The Flynn Theater, the Green Mountain Club and Vermont Public. When doing so please note "Memorial donation for Stephanie J. Mapes".
Arrangements are in the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services.