Lucienne Sophie Stevenson

Lucienne Sophie Stevenson, tiny in stature but so very strong and courageous up until the end of her life, passed away peacefully at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Billings on April 9, just 9 days after she turned 98. Lucienne, our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, was born on March 31, 1927, in Hennuyeres, Belgium. She was the second of three children born to the couple, which also included her older brother, Jean, and younger sister, Cecile.

During her lifetime, she often recounted her experiences living in occupied Belgium during World War II. As hard as that period sometimes was, there was also a light at the end of the tunnel. After the war ended, Lucienne met Kenneth Stevenson, a U.S. Army corporal stationed near her hometown, on a blind date. Just mere months later, on May 25, 1946, the couple married in Hennuyeres and made their home in San Francisco, CA., and then in San Jose, CA. They spent much of their retirement in Florida, both in Jacksonville and in Sun City Center.

The couple had three children. After a marriage that lasted nearly 63 years, Lucienne lost Ken to illness in March 2009. And now, 16 years later, they have been reunited.

Lucienne is survived by son Jack Stevenson, son Ken Stevenson (Barbara) and daughter Susan Olp (Kelly), as well as by grandchildren Phillip Stevenson (Amanda) and Jennifer Dinkle (Trey), Patrick Olp (Danielle), Kevin Olp and Kathryn Restad (Adam), and great-grandchildren Ethan, Leena and Leo, Kieran and Liam, and Gwendolyn and Lucienne.

When we think of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, we will always remember her courage and perseverance as she overcame multiple medical issues over the years. We affectionately called her “the energizer bunny” for her ability to keep going.

That same strength kept her independent well into her 90s. She also stayed current with the times, equipped with an Apple watch, a cell phone, iPad and laptop, and with the news of the day. She was an elegant woman who always dressed impeccably, no matter the occasion. She was meticulous in the way she cared for her home.

She never completely lost her Belgian accent and people she met often commented on it. When people had trouble pronouncing her name, she’d explain that the way to say it was “Luci N.”

Family meant everything to her. Her longtime friends, Bette and Jay, also held a special place in her heart.

We are grateful to her Sun City Center neighbors, Laurie and Marie Therese, who showed her so much kindness. We also appreciate the wonderful care she received both at St. John’s Transitional Rehabilitation Center and from the team of RiverStone Hospice, who helped us with her home care toward the end of her life.

Cremation has taken place through arrangements with Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary and Crematory. No service is planned, but at the request of Kenneth and Lucienne, their cremated remains will be scattered together in the Gulf of Mexico.