Always very kind and helpful at Mesa Red Mountain Library. Had no idea she was ill. We miss her presence.

Stephanie was an amazing person. My family loved her so much. Her personality and kindness were so wonderful. We became immediate friends. She blessed so many lives. To her family and all her friends, I'm sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry to lose Stephanie -- a good friend and great colleague.
We worked together on many library programs, and she was an amazing, tireless advocate for library book groups and local authors. It was always a joy to "talk books" with her.

I worked with Stephanie at Mesa Public Library, Red Mountain branch for about 2 and a half years. When working there, she was almost like a second mom to me. She was so incredibly generous, kind, thoughtful and hardworking. She never once hesitated to help any coworker or patron out and was extremely selfless with her job. I looked up to her in so many ways. I will never forget how she carried herself and how she put all her energy into being the best librarian she could be. She made such a huge impact on me and even when I quit working for the library, she encouraged me to continue with my new project of creating children’s music and content for YouTube. She joked that maybe I’d be famous one day if I started a YouTube show for kids. This was just a few months before she passed on too. She was by far the most incredible librarian I have ever know and ever worked with. She truly was so special. She will be so missed.

I am sad to hear the news of Stephanie's passing. I am a volunteer at Red Mountain since 2007 and have know Stephanie that long. She was so soft spoken and loved talking about her two grandchildren, her love of books, her job at the library and her horses. She will be sadly missed.

Carol Irvin
Red Mountain Library Volunteer

I first met Stephanie years ago when I volunteered at the library during Story Time. Whenever I saw her, she was so warm and welcoming. She always had time to talk unless a patron needed her, and then she was on it! Eventually, I met Will, also, when he brought his children to Story Time. Stephanie was never one to brag, but I could tell she was so proud of them. When I published my first book, I began taking part in the Local Author Fairs and other workshops she planned. She was such a hard worker and everything always went off without a hitch.  The library, and the world for that matter, won't be the same without her intelligence, diligence, care and humility.

I am devastated with this unexpected loss of an amazing colleague and friend. For more than 15 years I enjoyed collaborating with Stephanie on many environmentally-focused programs and projects. 

As many have pointed out, she was eager to share her passion for books and reading and frequently arranged for author visits to provide even more inspiration and connections for book lovers.

Together, we brought workshops, zoom presentations, and tree plantings to community members on topics of gardening, water and energy conservation, desert landscaping, tree care, and more. On her own, she arranged for the monthly ‘Ask a Master Gardener’ series to take place at the library, essentially providing a satellite office of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. Add all of this to the countless hours she assisted patrons at the reference desk, and I know she touched many thousands throughout her career. 

Her wit, and her gentle voice and laughter will be missed. My heart goes out to her family, including her four-legged ones. ♥

A group of librarians (Laurie, Stephanie, Shiela, Sandy) teamed up to present training for City of Mesa staff to train them on research techniques. We're standing in what was the Library Training Room at the Main Library.

For the 100 Year celebration, a group of Librarians worked together to present a number of activities for City staff and the public including a large festival with sponsors. Stephanie was involved in the planning and delivey of Open Houses for City employees. At these events, she enjoyed sharing how staff could utilize the library's many resources.  In later years during Hot Spot drop-ins at Red Mountain Library, she was helpful to patrons in developing their skills in using and navigating tech devices so that they could make the most of library reading apps and databases. She was always patient and caring with customers, friends, and everyone she met. She will be fondly remembered and terribly missed.

Continuing to share photos of Stephanie.  
In 2010, Stephanie helped plan a retirement party for fellow librarian Andrea and even gave a speech at the event. The theme was the Renaissance.

A memory with Sandy, Mary, and Stephanie.

We had such fun on Halloween. This time (2007), we dressed up as belly dancers. Stephanie was interested in this type of dance and Denise brought items for everyone to borrow and wear.

This was Nancy, Stephanie, and Sherrill at a retirement party for a fellow staff member Mary Grace in 2008.

Stephanie was a lover of all animals. This is Tiger, who belonged to another person on staff, Bonnie, and was a wonderful comfort dog. Love this photo of Stephanie.

I'm remembering so many projects we did and the fun we had with Stephanie. I'm adding more photos. This was at a Dobson Ranch Open House where City staff were invited to explore the library to celebrate our 100 years of service. Stephanie is with Marian and Pam.

Stephanie was such a force in setting up events for writers and readers and giving authors a place to share their talents.  She was a passionate devotee to all things library and the many partnerships she fostered. My condelences to her family and friends at this sad time, the loss of this wonderful person. I enjoyed working with her at Mesa Public Library. Her energy for service, her knowledge, and her love of things that made life better were always at the forefront of everything she did.

Here's the tree planting mentioned above that we did in 2022. Unfortunately, it's not the tree we planted just prior to taking this pic. Stephanie helped the workshop participants plant a Vitex tree in the Monarch Haven and Reading Sanctuary pocket park that day. From Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.

Same Living Green workshop series - this one at Red Mountain in 2010. From Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.

In 2009 Stephanie, Rebecca (in photo) and Suzanne Nimitz worked with me to start a Living Green workshop series. We held a program each month at the different libraries. They took place the first Saturday of every month for two years. From Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.

In April 2022 we were putting on a tree program. We toured the Monarch Haven and Reading Sanctuary pocket park prior to the workshop to figure out where to plant a tree. See pic later. She was always willing to get creative with our events. From Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.

Stephanie was an amazing colleague and friend. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her to put on environmental programming. In March of 2021, Covid restrictions were still in place. We had a Milkweed for Monarchs Zoom workshop, the following week, we had an in-person milkweed plant giveaway at the Monarch Haven and Reading Sanctuary pocket park. From Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Environmental & Sustainability Department.

I have been a City of Mesa employee for almost 30 years now.  Unfortunately, in that time I never had the opportunity to cross paths with Stephanie.  With that said after reading Stephanie's obituary from Inside Mesa I felt moved.  

Thank you Stephanie for all of your dedication to the Library services and our community.  It is people such as you that make our City a better place.  Reading books sometimes feels like a lost art with the advent of technology.  We need more people like Stephanie in this world to keep advocating for authors and the books they write. 

I am sorry we never met Stephanie, but if we did I am sure your wonderful personality and love for life would have made my day.  Rest in peace.

So many childhood memories pop into my head about visits to our grandparents home in New Jersey.
So sorry for your loss Will and family.
Rest in peace Stephanie.

I am so sorry for your loss.
This is just heartbreaking.
I worked a lot with Stephanie over the years in so many capacities.
She was both a friend and colleague.
She was always so supportive of writers, especially local authors.
Her passing is a great loss to all of us who knew and loved her.
She will be remembered and mourned by many.

We will miss Stephanie so much.  I had known her through the library for 40 years since 1981, She will be missed by all.  I'll miss our lunches on Mondays with John and Elaine Burke and Nancy Mumpton.   My sympathies to Wil and the family.  and to her mother and sisters. It went so fast and we are so sorry,   Sincerely Pam Gassler

Stephanie and I were friends for 40 years. For 25 we worked next to each other at Mesa Public Library and the last 15 we made it a point to get together every couple of weeks with friends or just us. She loved her family, friends, the library, books, horses and cats. I will miss her so very much.

Steph became one of my first friends as I moved from my librarian position at Texas A&M to my reference librarian position at Mesa Public Library. I think  it was the Texas connection we both had that brought us together initially. Although we worked in different departments, we always had strong social and personal ties. I remember encouraging her to apply for a part time librarian position at Chandler Public Library . When she got the job she was elated  and said the encouragement I gave her helped her decide. 
Stephanie was a giving and caring person. I will miss her positive outlook and wit. I am so sorry I was unaware that she was critically ill and suffering pain. My thoughts and prayers got out to her family during this period of bereavement.

Stephanie and I met over 55 years ago when she went on a date with my brother. She was a wonderful part of the Foster family. She was very close to my mom, her mother in law. We raised all the cousins and watched all of them grow up! Her kindness and love for all animals was such a part of her. So many family memories that we will all hold dear. Rest in peace Stephanie.

OBITUARY

Stephanie H. Foster

September 3, 1948 – June 14, 2024

Lakeshore Mortuary

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