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A funeral Mass for Pauline Mary Stephano, 96, a longtime resident of Batavia, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at Holy Cross Church, Batavia. The Rev. Stephen St. Jules will officiate.
Born March 6, 1902, in Harvey, to John and Mary Paske, she died Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998, at Aurora Manor Nursing Home. Interment will be in East Batavia Cemetery.
Mrs. Stephano had moved to Batavia after World War I with her husband, Navy veteran Walter Joseph Stephano. During her life she was very active in the public schools' parent-teacher associations, and was especially influential during the 1930's in the development of various aspects of the manual artsprogram at Batavia High School. A skilled seamstress, she held various jobs in the then active local garment business, eventually representing Illinois garment workers as a delegate to the National Garment Workers Union convention in 1940 in New York City.
Her life centered around her home, family, friends and church. She headed the Holy Cross Church Altar and Rosary Society for many years. From her fabled flower gardens came bright blooms for the altar and the homes of ailing friends and neighbors. Admirers of her hybrid iris often stopped to chat at the homes on North Van Buren Street and North River Street where they were lavishly on display. It wasn't unusual for her to digup bulbs to share with all.
Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Stephano worked as an administrative assistant at the Illinois State Training School for Girls in Geneva.
In retirement, she and Walter purchased and lived in several properties near Baraboo, Wis., including Skillet Creek Farm at Devil's Lake, now a well-known camping destination, and the House of Seven Gables, a home presently on the National List of Historic Places. In the early 1970's they moved to the land-and-orange grove country of central Florida where they frequently entertained friends and relatives visiting from the North. Following the death of Walter in 1980, she stayed on in Florida to continue her year-round gardening activities.
In time, advancing age and ill health brought her to Aurora Manor Nursing Home where she could be more accessible to family and friends. It is this family and those friends who will always remember her love, influence, generosity, and contributions to the common good.
She is survived by her children, Walter J. (Mary Jane) Stephano Jr. of West Chicago, Joseph P. (Betty) Stephano of Batavia and Peter J. (Nancy) Stephano of Des Moines, Iowa; sister, Lillian VanderPluym of Merrimac, Wis; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walter J. Stephano Sr; and daughter, Mary Shumway.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today, at Yurs-Peterson Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia, with a liturgical wake service at 7 p.m. and a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. She will also lie in state from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 10 a.m. Wednesday, at the church.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Holy Cross Church, 2300 Main St., Batavia, IL 60510. For information, 630-879-7900.¹⁰

Walter Stephano, 82, of Sandwich, formerly of Batavia, IL, passed away January 5, 2005 at Provena Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora. He was born on April 12, 1922 to the late Walter and Pauline Stephano in Aurora, Il.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Stephano of Sandwich; his children, Michael (Mary) Stephano of Aurora, Ronald (Linda) Stephano of Batavia, Walter (Terry) Stephano of Batavia, Paula (Arnie Hoepfner) Hoelscher-Stephano of Maple Park and Mark (Cheryl) Stephano of Aurora; two brothers, Joseph of Batavia and Peter of Des Moines, IA; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Stephen; and his sister, Mary Shumway.
Celebration of Funeral Mass will be held Monday, January 10, 2005 at 10 AM at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Sandwich, IL, with Father Jack T. Heraty, officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 9, 2005, from 1-5 PM, with a Rosary recited at 4 PM at the Beverage Family Funeral Home, Sandwich, IL. Memorials may be directed to the family.²