Mary Dianne Stephens

Mary Dianne Stephens was born on April 9, 1943, and passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love, on July 1, 2025, after many years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by her parents, Baptiste Cardinal, Verba Wooding Cardinal, and Justa Cardinal; grandmother, Ella Wooding; husband, Anthony (Tony); nephew, Mike Skok; brother-in-law, Dr. Gene Skok; and sisters-in-law, Margaret (Peg) Ste. Marie and Elizabeth (Betty) Skok.

She is survived by daughter, Colleen (Tim Chapman); son, Tom (Casey) Stephens; and grandchildren, Maeve, Colin, and Owen. The oldest of seven, she is survived by her siblings: Al (Sherri), Louise, Ben (Kathy), Phil (Phyllis), Bob (Sharon), and Chris (Katie) Cardinal, as well as her nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Dianne was a kind and gentle woman, grounded in her Catholic faith. She was generous and selfless, always quietly doing thoughtful things for others. She was known for her handwritten notes, heartfelt gifts, and small gestures of care. Her notes and cards were often paired with Regina’s Candy; a cherished neighborhood favorite she supported loyally for more than 50 years. Her warmth was felt by all who knew her.

Family and friends were everything to Dianne, and their presence during her final weekend with us was a beautiful reflection of the love she so freely gave throughout her life. It was a truly heartfelt sendoff.

Dianne grew up in Maplewood and attended St. Jerome School and Alexander Ramsey High School before attending Winona State College, where she was a student-athlete on the women’s basketball team. Dianne was a member of St. Jerome’s Church and sang in the choir. One day, her choir friend Betty said, “I have a fun, single, younger brother your age.” They met, connected, and that gal from Maplewood would eventually fall in love and marry that handsome guy from Juliet Avenue in St. Paul. The always clever and fun Tony proposed to Dianne by placing her engagement ring in a box of Cracker Jacks popcorn. Together, they made a wonderful life in Nativity Parish.

She began her professional career with St. Paul Companies (now Travelers Insurance), later moving into Community Education with St. Paul Public Schools. It was there she found her true calling as an educator in ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), where she left a lasting legacy in the lives of countless families and children. Even today, stories continue to surface about the profound impact she had on those she taught and cared for.

Dianne retired to care for her beloved husband, Tony, a true reflection of her love and devotion. After his passing, she embraced a quiet, simple life filled with the things she cherished most: enjoying a cup of coffee and the newspaper, soaking up the sunshine, attending mass, reading a good book, taking neighborhood walks, and spending time with her best buddy, her dog Lexie. She especially treasured peaceful moments and found comfort in everyday routines. Dianne was a longtime member of the Nativity Choir for over 40 years, enjoyed taking fitness classes at the Cathedral Hill YWCA, and bowled weekly with the retired St. Paul Public Schools teachers’ league. In recent years, visits from friends, especially her fellow teacher friends, brought her immense happiness. Though she was unable to express it, those moments of connection were deeply felt and known in her heart.

Above all, her most treasured role was becoming a grandmother. She embraced the title “Grandma Di” with pride, joy, and boundless love. She even created a mini ECFE classroom in her home to continue sharing her passion for learning with her grandchildren. She cherished every moment spent with them and delighted in attending their school and sporting events.

Dianne’s life was deeply rooted in love, family, and friendship. Her warmth and kindness touched everyone around her, and she will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. Even in her final years, as she faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s, Dianne remained anchored in faith and gratitude. She never stopped saying “thank you.”

With deep appreciation, we thank her devoted caregivers, Victoria, Benedette, and Sidney, who became like family to us as well as Maria and Hieu, and the team from Our Lady of Peace Home Hospice, for their compassion, patience, and loving care of Dianne.

Now, she is reunited with her beloved Tony and once again embraced by her loving mother, who passed away when Dianne was only eleven days old. What a beautiful and heartwarming reunion that surely was.

Visitation will be held at O’Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home (575 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, MN 55116) on Thursday, July 10, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (1900 Stanford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105) on Friday, July 11, at 10:30 a.m., with Visitation at the church beginning one hour prior. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Nativity of Our Lord Scholarship Fund.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.