Frances M. Stephens

Frances M. “Chick” Stephens, 95, of Steubenville, Ohio, passed away Friday March 5, 2021 at the Carriage Inn of Steubenville.

She was born August 21, 1925 in Steubenville, Ohio a daughter of the late Nicola and Maria (Torelli) Ricci.

Frances married N. Kenneth Stephens on February 29, 1952 and were married for 37 years until Kenneth’s death on April 5, 1989.  Also preceding Frances in death are two brothers, Armando Ricci and Rocco Ricci; a sister, Antoinette “Toni” DiFalco; a niece, Elaine LaFollette; a niece-in-law, Mary Lynn Ricci; a sister-in-law, Geraldine (Stewart) Atwood; and a brother-in-law, Vernon (Lillian) Stephens. 

Frances worked in local retail for 65 years and was a very familiar face to many.  Early in her career she worked at McCory’s, WT Grants, Grey’s Drugstore, Top Value Stamp store, and then from 1950-1960 she worked for Kroger Company.  In 1960 she retired from Kroger to become a full time wife and mother, occasionally working part time jobs.  Frances went back to work in 1974 when Fort Steuben Mall opened and was hired as the first General Manager at General Nutrition Center.  She worked there until 1984 when her husband retired and they began to spend the winter months in Ft. Meyers, Florida where she worked at Winn-Dixie.  Finally, in 1996 she began working at the Family Toy Warehouse when it opened at the Fort Steuben Mall until it closed its doors for good in 2004. 

Chick was a member of Triumph of the Cross (Holy Rosary) Catholic Church, where she was an active member of the Catholic Women’s Club and the St. Frances Society.  She was also a past member of the Steubenville Business and Professional Women’s Club.   Frances was an avid card player and a member of three different card clubs.  She was also an avid reader, having been known to read a book a day from cover to cover. 

Surviving are her son, Mark Stephens of Steubenville, OH and his longtime girlfriend Maddie Green of Pittsburgh, PA; two nephews, John (Carolyn) DiFalco and their children, Beth (Robbie) Helgans, Jennifer (Albert) Esparza, Kevin (Jill) DiFalco; Jerry Ricci and his son Nicholas (Andrea) Ricci; a cousin, JoAnn Reale of Wintersville, OH and nephew-in-law, Ron LaFollette. Frances is also survived by her Canadian family, Shirley (Berry) Ward, Heather Stewart, Judy (Doug) MacLaurin, Bob (Maurine) Mooney, Eldred (Colleen) Stephens and Jim Stephens; and many great nieces and nephews, residing in both the United States and Canada. 

Friends will be received at the Wheeler Funeral Home, 101 Longview Ave., Mingo Junction, Ohio on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. and also on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Her funeral liturgy with Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Triumph of the Cross Catholic Church with Fr. Nicholas Ginnetti, celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Steubenville. Masks are required and please observe social distancing.

There will be a vigil service on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 (www.stjude.org) or Triumph of the Cross Building Fund, P.O. Box 908, Steubenville, Ohio 43952. 

Offer condolences at www.wheelerfuneralhomes.com. You may also view her tribute video below. 

Information for ordering Fingerprint Keepsake Jewelry

Legacy Touch Company

PIN number for Frances

DZUG93AZ

Order by visiting

www.legacytouch.com

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