Mary Jane Stevens was born 07 May 1934 (Highland Park, MI), to Amelia Grace Pabst and Dixon Ernest “Dix” McFadden, sharing her arrival with her twin sister Gracie Lee McFadden.
Mary entered the convent on July 1, 1951 (Nazareth, MI) as Sister Leah Patrice. She taught English and music with the Sisters of St Joseph until August 1964. Mary married Robert James (Szczepanski) Stevens on April 16, 1966 (Detroit, MI). After living in Detroit and Sterling Heights, the family moved to Rochester Hills, MI, where Mary was a realtor and active in the local Catholic Church (St. Irenaeus).
Mary wrote a book about the acromegaly surgery and treatment she received in May 1968. The first version of the autobiographical book was called “It’s All in Your Head! You Need to Know” (Vantage Press, ISBN 0-553-13155-3). Then it was slightly re-written and released as “Blessed: My Battle with Brain Disease” (Fireside Publications, ISBN 978-0-9814672-2-1)
The couple moved to The Villages, FL in 2006. Mary’s husband Bob died in 2015. Mary moved to Oxford, FL, where she died at age 91 on 30 Aug 2025.
Mary is survived by her three children: Dok Tael Stevens, Eric Michael Stevens and Gina Lee Stevens; two grandchildren: Brianna Mary Stevens and Amelia Hope Dehring; and one great-grandson, Jacob Robert Stevens. She is also survived by her brother James Frank McFadden, sisters Gracie Lee Ginty and Patricia Ann DelDuco, and multiple nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 10 a.m. at St. Mark The Evangelist located at 7081 SE Hwy 42, Summerfield, Fl. 34491. Mary will be interred with her beloved husband Bob in Highland Memorial Park (Ocala, FL) following services.