On Friday, June 26, 2026, Lorli R. Stephens was welcomed into the arms of her loving Savior.

A memorial visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 4 p.m – 8 p.m. at Cappetta’s West Suburban Funeral Home at 4920 Main Street, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

The memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at the Mennonite Village, Lakeside Room, in Albany, Oregon. A luncheon will follow.

The family requests donations to India Rural Evangelical Fellowship in lieu of flowers. For additional information please call 630-852-8000 or visit us at westsuburbanfh.com

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Lorli R. (née Kenagy) Stephens, was born February 13, 1933, in Albany, Oregon, to Ivan E. and Edna (née Roth) Kenagy.

She is survived by her loving and faithful husband of 63 years, John E. Stephens, and her three children Suzanne, John, and Jennifer (Kirt), her adored grandchildren Timothy (Mariah), Madeleine, and Jacob, sister-in-law Donna, brothers Steve (Cindy), and John (Jude), as well as nieces and nephews—Kristen (Jost), Dan, Kyle (Amy), Kara (Kirk), Grant (Jamie), and Logan (Michael)—and grand-nieces and -nephews of whose lives and accomplishments she was very proud.

She is preceded in death by her dear brother, Jerome.

Lorli was blessed to enjoy an idyllic childhood. She would not have described it that way, however, because of the challenges faced in the Great Depression and WWII. Living in their small town, she also enjoyed the freedom of exploring, playing, and learning on her grandparents’ farms with her many aunts, uncles, and cousins—she had the best of both worlds!

The family soon welcomed brother Jerome, followed in a few years by Steve, and then finally, John Mark.

Lorli recounted coming out of church on Sunday, December 7, 1941, and hearing that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. Suddenly her world expanded from a small town on the western edge of the United States to include regular reports from far flung places around the world. Her grandparents posted large world maps on the wall marking the places their sons were fighting, or serving as conscientious objectors. The uncles’ letters home described their experiences and were exotic and fascinating to young Lorli, sparking a life-long desire to have her own travel adventures and see the world!

Her father’s love of the Spanish language provided her first opportunity for travel and adventure at age14 when he transferred from the U.S. Postal Service in Albany to APO Panama.  Her favorite Panama story to tell her children and grandchildren was about the day she was out riding her bike on a jungle road. She rounded a corner and standing directly in front of her was a Big. Black. Panther. In her words, “I carefully backed away, and then pedaled as fast as I could and got out of there!”

From her earliest years, Lorli knew that she wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Seattle Pacific College, she completed the requisite two years of teaching state-side and achieved her big goal—becoming a teacher for the U.S. military dependent schools abroad. This allowed her to combine both her passions: the teaching vocation she loved plus the travel and adventure she craved.

From 1959–1963 she explored Europe, reveling in seeing firsthand the things she had learned about in her Art History studies. In the summer of 1960, she camped her way across Western Europe (including Andorra—had to get that passport stamp!) with brothers Jerome and Steve. Oh, the stories! She also had a few exciting forays behind the Iron Curtain and ventured into the ancient lands of Egypt and Jordan.

During her second teaching assignment in Toul, France, PFC Stephens was assigned to oversee the BOQ that also housed the teachers. This rascally yet charming Private noticed Lorli right away. He admired her legs, loved her car, and pilfered her peanut butter. His persistence eventually paid off and soon they fell in love with the French countryside, Paris, and London as the backdrop.

Their wedding turned into another adventure. They were married on June 28, 1963, by the Burgermeister in Miesau, Germany. The ceremony, witnessed by two drunks pulled in off the street, was conducted entirely in German. Lorli always wondered exactly what she promised that day.

When John’s tour of duty ended, they traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, to introduce Lorli’s parents to their new granddaughter, Suzanne. John’s plan had been to move his family to his home state of Texas. But the new state of Alaska was booming and Lorli’s father encouraged John to look for a job there. While living in Fairbanks, son John David was born.

A year later Lorli and John moved to Portland, Oregon, where they added daughter Jennifer to their family. They lived in Portland for the next 15 years, raising their children in the incomparable Pacific Northwest.

A career change for John took the family to the Chicago suburbs in 1982. It was quite an adjustment for Lorli, the born and bred Oregonian, but it allowed her to reconnect with her father’s youngest sister, Pauline Miller, who was also her childhood first, best friend. The Stephens and the Millers enjoyed celebrating holidays together and cherished having family nearby.

After raising their three children, Lorli and John were able to resume traveling together, adding stamps from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia to their passports.

1994 – 2003 brought three precious, precocious, grandchildren who are unquestionably handsome, beautiful, and greatly beloved!

Any opportunity to spend time with them was eagerly embraced. Sleep overs at Grandma and Pocky’s was a favorite grandkid adventure. Reading stories, practicing letters, counting, math, talking about history (Oregon Trail CD on the computer at Grandma’s was a staple!), playing games, taking naps, exploring in the nearby forest preserve, and trips to McDonalds filled their days together.

Tim is grateful for the many years of Sunday dinners at Grandma’s—good food, long relaxing afternoons, second helpings of dessert, and experiencing the security and joy of family all together.

Maddie turned to her Grandma for support while learning to play the violin. She recounts calling when she didn’t feel like practicing. Grandma would listen to her practice her pieces through the phone and encourage her to keep going. She said, “once I learned a new song I’d call her and play it. I’m sure an eight-year-old playing the violin through a landline didn’t sound great but she always would listen and cheer me on!”

Jake fondly recalls the many days he got to spend with just Grandma when he was young: reading books, going to the Graue Mill, and playing all sorts of games; his fondest memory was playing school with her in their basement and then playing the piano for her.

Through the years she loved teaching Sunday School and instilling a love for God in children’s hearts and minds. She was a faithful encourager and mentor to so many of her children’s friends, and to others in her community.

But far and away her greatest love was the Lord Jesus Christ. Following, knowing, and loving Him was her deepest desire for her children, grandchildren, and for all her extended family. She passed on the Godly heritage of faith she received from her parents, grandparents, and the generations before them, living out a life of faithfulness and trust by which her family is so blessed and enriched.

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name….

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

For he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust….

From everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

Praise the Lord, all his works,

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

from Psalm 103