Emily Bryden Stephens

EMILY BRYDEN STEPHENS, age 39, passed away May 21, 2012. She was the beloved wife of Orhan Sahin and devoted mother of Deniz A. Stephens. Loving daughter of Alton L. and Carol J. Stephens (nee: Bryden). Dear sister of Christine (Tom) Kennedy and granddaughter of Tess Stephens. Emily was the dearest aunt of Larry, Leah, Marylynn and Evan Kennedy and niece of Helen Roemisch and Michael Bryden. Emily grew up in Westlake and was a 1990 graduate of Westlake High School and received two masters degrees in education and anthropology at Ohio State University. Emily loved her family; she also loved to travel, spending six months alone backpacking Europe, she enjoyed singing, music, cooking and poetry, living her life to the fullest, even spending a year in Thailand raising gibbon apes from infancy. Emily was a high school teacher in Iowa teaching for the Centerville School district. Family will receive friends Thursday, May 24, from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the CATAVOLOS-BERRY FUNERAL HOME, 23040 CENTER RIDGE RD., WESTLAKE. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 25, 10a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 27993 Detroit Rd., Westlake (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). For online tributes and condolences please visit: www.catavolosberryfuneralhome.com