Mariam I. "Mary" Stevens 1919 - 2009

STEVENS, OTT, ABDOUCH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 11/25/2020 at 22:51:58

Sioux City Journal
28 May 2009

Mary Stevens

SIOUX CITY - Mariam I. "Mary" Stevens, 89, of Sioux City died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at her residence following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, with the Very Rev. Paul Hodge officiating. Burial will be in St. Thomas Orthodox Cemetery, Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a Trisagion service at 7:30 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyer-broschapels.com.

Mary was born May 25, 1919, in Millboro, S.D., the daughter of Mose and Georgia (Ott) Abdouch. She lived in Millboro until she was eight-and-one-half-years old, then moved to Sioux City. She lived with several different families until she was 11 years old, then made her permanent home with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bitsos, working for them.

She married Thomas Stevens on Aug. 4, 1940, in Sioux City. The couple had two sons. He died Aug. 30, 2001, in Sioux City. She was a partner with her husband at Iowa Leather Company from 1962 through 1995. She started her own store, The Iowa Leather Craft and Mart's Imports. She operated it from 1970 through 2003. She then became a senior companion and did that until the age of 85.

She was very active at St. Thomas Orthodox Church and even put on dinners at the age of 15. She was a member of the ladies group at the church and served as president for two years. Her favorite activity at church was helping with the youth. she was a Cosponsor of the V-8 Club, a group of girls from church who met from 1934 to 2004. The club was dissolved due to several girls passing on. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Isis Chapter and served as a star point.

Survivors include two sons and their wives, Dick and Sue Stevens and Phil and Judy Stevens, all of Sioux City; a brother, Louie Bitsos of California; a sister, Marie Woods of Texas; six grandchildren, Rick Stevens, Robert Stevens and his wife, Dusti, Troy Martin and his wife, Jennifer, Joshua Stevens and his wife, Dana, Jeremy Stevens and his wife, Kate, and Jeffrey Stevens and his fiancee, Nicole; seven great-grandchildren; and several godchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Mose Abdouch; her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bitsos; two brothers, Phillip Abdouch and Tony Bitsos; a sister, Maggie Staber; a grandson, Jason Stevens; and a great-granddaughter, Caitlin Martin.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Rick and Robert Stevens, Troy Martin, Joshua, Jeremy and Jeffrey Stevens.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Murad, Danny Abdouch, Louie Bitsos, special ladies of Shire Apartments and Lisa Pearson.

Memorials may be made in her name to Hospice of Siouxland or St. Thomas Orthodox Church.