Betty J. Stephens

The talk of War was everywhere, and the soot from steel mills operating at full capacity obscured the sun on most days.

But this family had their own battles on a daily – even hourly basis, and so global events rarely penetrated the sphere of this family.

Scrabbling for food. Living in hand-me-downs held together with tireless effort of the women in this family learning how to sew out of need, not as a hobby. Sleeping in shared beds with a roof over their heads was more often than not a miracle in and of itself. Betty leaves behind her loving sisters Doris Karpinski, Lois Guenther and her brothers Richard Spencer and Thomas (Patricia) Mann.

But they were strong together, a feared force in the neighborhood and school.

They fought and scrapped with each other as siblings do, but they also stood up for each other in the face of incredible adversity. This was the childhood of Betty, and she thrived in it, becoming one of the toughest girls in the neighborhood.

But for as tough as she was, that brought out her heart and her compassion just as powerfully, and she was a Force to be respected.

The years sailed by, the Great War had been won with another seething battle halfway around the world escalating, and yet just before Thanksgiving in 1955, a close friend of Anthony (Tony) Stephens introduced him to this “remarkable girl”, and these two youngsters found each other and never let go in the decades that whizzed by. Betty was striking in her beauty, and she completely captivated Tony.

For Tony, it was love at first sight. For him, Betty was “The One”, and he courted her with enthusiasm, and amazingly, Betty accepted his overtures and they grew close, and in May of 1956, Tony and Betty joined in marriage and became One, and from that union came three children and over 65 years of togetherness; still holding hands, still close, sharing in the strength of that bond that can only be the fruit of God’s Hand.

Mom was strong, opinionated, and vociferous; always seeking a better life for her family and pushing us to a moral standard she learned the Hard Way.

Tend to chores. Mind your mouth, always. Love and respect your parents, always. Love God, always. Learn from your mistakes and Do. Not. Lie.

I remember so many times I’d come home from school to find my dresser drawers scattered across the bedroom because of my messiness; my bed stripped and tossed because of how sloppy it was made. She held us to a standard and we learned, often in dramatic fashion.

That never changed over the years. She softened her hard edges, but her sharp, often acerbic wit never took a day off. Her work ethic was only matched by Tony’s, and that was indelibly imprinted on all her children. Mom, we will miss you more than words can convey, but…

We take solace in the knowledge that you are at peace and in the presence of God.

Let’s all hope nobody annoys her in Heaven.

The Loving wife to Anthony sharing their 65 years together, they raised three children Lawrence (Maryclare) Stephens, Daniel (Michele) Stephens and Karen (Randell) Vaughn.

Her legacy will live through her cherished grandchildren; Stephanie Sheldon, Amanda Andrews, Nicole Wagner, Andrea (Michael) Reams, Andrew Swarmer, Eric Stephens, Megan Stephens and her great grandchildren; Andrew, Elena, Garrett, Olivia, Audrey, Ember, Eidon, Amelia and Cole.

Proceeded in death by her sisters Audrey Mann, Helen Morelli and Marian Krause.

Friends and family are invited to H. P. Brandt Funeral Home on Tuesday September 21, 2021 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm. A funeral service will take place on September 22, 2021 at 11:00am at the Brighton Heights Lutheran Church 3830 California Ave Pittsburgh PA 15212. A luncheon will follow at the conclusion after the funeral service at the church.