Elaine Marie (Roux) Stephens, 99, of Chelmsford, formerly of Tewksbury and York, ME, passed away peacefully after a brief period of declining health on Saturday, August, 20, 2022 at the Belvidere Healthcare Center. She was the widow of Samuel G. Stephens.
Elaine was born on April 8, 1923 in Lowell and raised in Tewksbury. She was a daughter of the late Phaida Joseph Roux—the town blacksmith—and the late Marie (LeMay) Roux. She graduated from Tewksbury Memorial High School and married Sam a short time later—the two of them spending what would be almost four decades together raising their four children in her hometown, before he unexpectedly passed away in 1980.
Elaine dedicated her life to her family and her friends and she created a home where neighbors and eventually grandchildren were known to wander in for advice—or to grab a cookie out of the cookie jar. She was an extremely devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. When not in the kitchen cooking or canning, you could find her sewing—or in her later years crocheting or working on a puzzle.
In 1976 she purchased land in York, ME where she and Sam built a cottage, setting the stage for decades of memories of summers spent at the beach. Many family and friends also bought cottages or homes nearby, Impacting future generations and creating a larger community up north—similar to the network of friends and family she had in what was lovingly known as Roux Village back home.
Elaine leaves her four children, Allan Stephens and his wife Marcia of Tewksbury, Thomas Stephens and his wife Coral of Londonderry, NH, Donna Sheehan of Chelmsford, and Mark Stephens and his wife Jody of York, ME; and her brother, Eugene Roux of Tewksbury.
She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren: Robert Stephens and his wife, Diana, of Tewksbury, Michael Stephens and his wife, Carmen, of York, ME, and Paul Stephens of Lowell, Peter Stephens and his wife, Donna, of Windham, NH, Brian Stephens of Tewksbury, Karen DeMeo and her husband, Dan, of Londonderry, NH, Anne Marie Costantino and her husband, Greg, of Boston, Joyce Sheehan of Portsmouth, NH, Debra Severini and her husband, John, of Windham, NH, Stephen Sheehan and his wife, Nichole, of Chelmsford, Sabrina Stephens of York, ME and Sophia Stephens of York, ME.
In addition she leaves her 17 great grandchildren and her two great great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends including one member of the group fondly known as The Golden Girls—Jeannie Callahan of Wells, ME.
Elaine was predeceased by her late-in-life partner George (Pinky) Restuccia—the two spent their winters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the other seasons in Maine as active members at the York Senior Center where Pinky played cribbage and she worked on her puzzles. Elaine was also predeceased by her siblings the late Louis Roux, the late Victor Roux, the late Pauline Roux and the late Gloria Deputat, as well as her son-in-law, the late Andrew Sheehan.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022 all are welcome to attend her visiting hours from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, 978-851-2061.
Her funeral will begin on Thursday, August 25 at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by her funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury. Burial will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in her memory to the York Center for Active Living (formerly the Senior Center), 36 Main Street, York, ME 03909, or to the charity of your choice.