LaDorna (Livingstone) Stephens

LaDorna Isabelle (Livingstone) Stephens, 95, passed away February 12, 2025. She was born in London, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, September 17, 1929, the daughter of James Charles & Alice LaDorna (Johnston) Livingstone. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Durston Stephens in 1999 and her brother Robert James Livingstone. 

She lived in London, Ontario until 1935 when the family relocated to Sault Ste. Marie.  In 1936 the family moved to Mile 163-1/2 on the Algoma Railway.  Her father managed the depot for Abitibi Pulp & Paper Company, which shipped logs from “the bush” to Sault Ste Marie to be processed into pulp wood. She and her brother Bob walked 1-1/2 miles along the railroad tracks to reach the school in Hawk Junction, although they did not have to go to school if the temperature was below negative 35F.  The family returned to the “Soo” at their father's death in 1940, and lived with their maternal grandparents, Emma Bertha & Robert Johnston for 3 years.

LaDorna  graduated from Sault Collegiate and studied office duties at Sault Business College. In 1946 her Mother remarried Ray Berkely Scarrow, and the family moved to Marathon, Ontario. LaDorna worked for the Dominion Bank for a year and then worked for Marathon Paper Mill in the office of the Traffic Manager. In 1948 she met Jim Stephens, who was sent to Marathon to learn the pulp and paper business for Babcock & Wilcox. In 1949 they married and moved to West Orange, N.J. Five of their children were born there. In 1959 they moved to their beloved farm in Wadsworth, Ohio where their last child was born in 1963. In 1966 they moved to Rochester, Michigan; in 1974 they moved to Murrysville, PA.

Wherever she lived she performed volunteer work for the local hospitals, churches, and schools, and was a long time member of the Murrysville Woman's Club.

One final move in 2011 brought her to Redstone Presbyterian Senior Care in Murrysville.

She lived a long and wonderful life, but she knew the best was yet to come.

LaDorna is survived by her six children – Carol (Peter) Holland, James (Kathi Ishimaru) Stephens, Elizabeth (James) Munchiando, Bruce (Kimberly) Stephens, Martha (Scott) Summers, and Deborah Moreland.

Survived by 15 grandchildren, Kate Pontone, John (Daniela Osterrieder) Holland, Alexander (Jessica) Munchiando, Jacob (Monica) Munchiando, Samuel (Grace) Munchiando, Benjamin (Cait) Stephens, David (Alison) Stephens, Luke (Juliana) Stephens, Sarah (Patrick) Channell, Anna (Bryce) Lauer, Maxwell Gorodesky, Lea LaDorna (Timothy) Muetz and Mary Grace, Daniel & James Moreland.

Also survived by 16 great-grandchildren, Clara and Emma Pontone, Luna and Finn Holland, James, Gabriel, Aurelia, Layla Munchiando, Aiden Mullins, Theodore, Philip, Jude, Finnegan Stephens, Josephine and Margot Channell, Elijah and Ezra Muetz.

She is also survived by a sister, Eve Allen (James) of Bishop, CA, and sister-in-law Betty Livingstone of Windsor, Ontario, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Ronald McDonald House, 451 44th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 or Phipps Conservatory, One Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

 A memorial service will be held at Redstone in Murrysville, on Saturday, March 01, 2025 at 11:00am. Entrusted with arrangements is Hart Funeral Home, Inc. For online condolences, please visit www.hartfuneralhomeinc.com.

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