Clema Stephens, 90, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Ecumen Seasons Retirement Community in Maplewood, MN. Clema was formerly a resident of La Porte, IN where she lived for 70 years. Clema was born on May 31, 1927 in West York, IL to Roscoe Cornwell and Goldia Clements Cornwell.
While attending high school, she returned from school one afternoon to find the family homestead burned to the ground. Unable to continue school, her mother gave her $5 and told her to take the train north to La Porte to join Clema’s sister, Barbara, and find work there. Clema moved to La Porte from Melrose in 1944 where she worked during WWII in the manufacture of airplanes at La Porte Manufacturing Corporation. Clema married Jean Stephens, of Annapolis, Illinois on February 8, 1946 after his return from service with the US Army in the European Theater. They were happily married for 56 years living the entire time in La Porte until Jean’s death in February, 2002. Clema and Jean were active members of the Door Village Methodist Church where Clema served for many years as treasurer. She was one of the many leaders of the Church’s famous food and meal services at the La Porte County Fair. Clema left La Porte in 2014 to live in the St. Paul, MN area and resided there until her death.
While living in La Porte, Clema worked for many years at Whirlpool but was well known to many in the area through her position as bookkeeper and buyer at Droege’s Clothing store on Lincolnway for three decades until her retirement in 1992.
Clema was a member of the Door Village United Methodist Women organization and enjoyed time with friends in several bridge and pinochle organizations and traveling around the US with her husband. She was well known for her interests in gardening and in a variety of decoration crafts, sewing and other hobbies. She is remembered by family and an almost endless list of friends and acquaintances for her outgoing personality, hospitality, kindness and generosity.
Clema was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jean; her brothers, Rector Ray “Rex” of Paris, IL, Daniel “Junior” Cornwell of West York, IL, and Carroll Cornwell of Annapolis, IL; and her sisters, Barbara Nadine Galey of La Porte, Vivian Iola Thompson of Hammond, Eva Dale Heleine of West Union, IL, and Elizabeth Ann Cornwell. She is survived by her brother, Larry Cornwell and his wife, Bea of Marshall, IL and by her sisters, Esther Drum of West York and Clara Belle Bartram of Marshall. She is survived by her two sons, Reagan Stephens and his wife, Jackie of North St. Paul, MN, and Robyn Stephens and his wife Amy of Katy, TX; her six grandchildren, Dr. Christine Rupcich of Chicago, IL, Kelsey Stephens of Germantown, TN, Caroline Church of Crown Point, IN, Colton Stephens of Minneapolis, MN, Riley Kate Stephens of Katy, TX, and Carter H. Stephens of Katy, TX; her two great-grandchildren, Molly Jean Church and Emily Joy Church of Crown Point, IN; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 AM (CST) Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Door Village United Methodist Church, La Porte, IN. Burial will take place following the service at Door Village Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM (CST) on Friday, September 1, 2017 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in La Porte, IN and also from 10 AM until the time of the service at the church on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Door Village United Methodist Church, 3502 Joliet Road, La Porte, IN 46350.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.