Coral Mary (Epply) Stephens, 78, of Londonderry, NH, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Thomas C. Stephens, with whom she would have celebrated 56 years of marriage this coming July.
She was born on August 10, 1945 in Canton, MA and was the daughter of the late Marilyn (Miller) Dane. She graduated from Dorchester High School and went on to attend nursing school at the Tewksbury State Hospital.
Coral devoted a number of her younger years to working at the Tewksbury State Hospital and D’Youville Manor Nursing Home. Her work as a nurse was very meaningful to her and was the perfect fit for her compassionate and caring nature.
Tom and Coral started their family shortly after getting married, and eventually relocated from Tewksbury to a home they built in Londonderry, NH. There, Coral worked part time at South School and was also an active participant in the PTA. She took part in the committee that helped to build the Londonderry Junior High School (now Londonderry Middle School) in 1982.
Tom and Coral returned to “Roux Village” in Tewksbury in 1984, and there she began a career in Real Estate, initially joining Century 21 Starwood and later working to sell the homes at DiPalma Estates. Her hard work allowed her to purchase a lot and build in York Beach, Maine, a place she loved to go.
With her children grown, Coral and Tom found themselves returning to Londonderry once more, where she would spend the remainder of her life. There she reconnected with the educational field, this time as a dedicated Special Education Para-Professional at Matthew Thornton Elementary School. At the school, she created a special bond with the children and people she worked with and left a lasting impression on them all, as they did with her.
Coral found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. She adored spending time with her grandchildren and was their biggest cheerleader in everything they did, from drama, to soccer, to band, and beyond. She loved her Bruins and any football game she could find. An avid reader, the staff at the Londonderry Leach Library knew her by name and would go above and beyond for her. She treasured the moments spent with her family in York and cherished any opportunity for family gatherings. Puzzles and playing games with family, like Sorry, Scrabble and Wordle, also brought her joy. She loved coffee ice cream, the smell of gardenias, and listening to Irish music. Bird watching was one of her favorite things to do, and she particularly loved her hummingbirds and visits from her special cardinals. She was known for her deep faith and prayed countless Rosaries for so many.
Her wonderful sense of humor and selfless generosity and caring defined her character. Always putting the needs of others before her own, this spirit lives on in her children and her grandchildren, this is her legacy.
In addition to her husband, Thomas Stephens of Londonderry, she is survived by her three children, Peter T. Stephens and his wife, Donna of Windham, Brian E. Stephens of Tewksbury, and Karen M. DeMeo and her husband, Daniel of Londonderry; her grandchildren, Jack, Lacey and Gianna DeMeo all of Londonderry, and Christian Stephens of Tewksbury; and her siblings, Timothy Dane and his wife, Janice of Plymouth, and Charlotte Dane of Londonderry. She is also survived by many special nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws, and close friends she made throughout her life.
In addition to her mother, the late Marilyn Dane; she was predeceased by her brothers, Christopher "Kit" Epply, Kevin Dane, and Brian Dane, and also by her loving grandmother Mary “Lulu” (Dromey) Miller.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice that is near and dear to you, as there is not one that Coral would not want to help.
On Thursday, May 9, all are welcome to attend her calling hours from 4-8 p.m. at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury 978-851-2061. Her funeral will begin on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her funeral mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. Williams Church in Tewksbury. Burial will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. Please find us on Facebook or use this website to leave the family a message of condolence at any time.