Stephanie Teresa Hathaway

Stephanie Hathaway of Fort Myers, Florida, died on November 8, 2016. Stephanie Theresa was born on August 4, 1920, in Detroit, Michigan, to Louise and Stanley Bystry. She married Albert Walchak with whom she had two children, Mark and Maria. Stephanie’s brother, Stephen, and sisters, Regina and Eleanor, and grandchild Matthew Grant, are deceased. Several years after Albert died, Stephanie married Milton Hathaway, her next door neighbor in Detroit.

Stephanie is survived by her children, Mark (Cathy) and Maria (John); her grandchildren, Erin (Darryl), Kim (Brad), Brad (Anna), and Ben; her great grandchildren, Bryson and Kennedy; her stepsons Milton, Richard (Sue,) Dennis (Donna), and Doug (Rose).

Stephanie had a long career with General Motors in Warren, Michigan, of which she was very proud. Stephanie and Milton spent their retirement in Higgins Lake, Michigan, and Fort Myers, Florida. They also traveled extensively to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, several Caribbean islands, and the Panama Canal. Stephanie served a term on the Board of Coachlight where she and Milton lived and together they also began a bowling league there which is still flourishing to this day.

Stephanie loved playing bridge (she was known as an incredibly adept player), pinochle, sharing a glass of wine with friends, reading the New York Times cover to cover, and sewing amazing quilts and embroidery masterpieces.

A celebration of Stephanie’s life will be held in January in Estero, FL, at Our Lady of Light. Memorial contributions may be made to Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Florida, and to the American Hearing Research Foundation at American-hearing.org. Online condolences may be left at www.HodgesNaplesMG.com.