Obituary of Victoria L. Stephano

Victoria Lynne Stephano, age 53, died on Sunday, October 21, 2018 after long battle with end stage diabetes and related complications.

She is survived by her children, Tessa and Sean Knight, her sister, Karen Dawson, and her mother, Barbara Garro.

A short eulogy, followed by a Funeral Mass will be held in her memory, at her church. A private burial at Calvary Cemetery, in Conshohocken, will immediately follow the service.

The service will be held on Saturday, November 17, 9:45AM at Mother of Divine Providence Catholic Church, 333 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mother of Divine Providence Church, c/o Sister of Veronica Gross.

----

from Great-Uncle, Rev. Jesse Fisher: “Wonderful savior, wonderful friend, wonderful love that never will end. Wonderful home he has gone to prepare. Wonder of wonders, I shall be there.” We have lived with Victoria, by phone, and talked with her about her good times and her not so good times. She never was looking for pity or attention when she called, just prayers. We need to be blended as a whole family unit and by God’s grace it will be so. When God calls us, we will not say, “I am not ready.” We will be with him and leave all this behind. My wife and I have told her many times, “God loves you,Victoria, and His love is everlasting.” She is now with God and her pain and sorrow are left behind. There is only joy in the presence of God. What a fellowship! What a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms of the Father.

from Great-Aunt, Helen Fisher: Victoria called often and was very positive, despite her serious illness. We often spoke of her wonderful love for God. This summer, I was with mother, Barbara Garro, in Saratoga Springs, New York, while Victoria endured two amputation surgeries in Pennsylvania. We attended mass every day to pray for Victoria. I heard her mother request prayers and pray to God to help heal her daughter’s body. Victoria was in great pain when she called. She said the medicine didn't touch her pain. I told her Jesus was walking with her through her pain and she didn't have to have two legs to walk into heaven. She believed me and calmed. “What a friend we have in Jesus, our sins and grief to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” I see God’s hand reaching down to Victoria, as she is reaching up to God’s hand. Let us think of her now, not in pain, but with Jesus in Heaven. Praise his holy name, Hallelujah.

From second cousin, Jean Carl: At Vicky’s grandmother’s funeral, the priest asked if anyone wanted to get up and speak. Vicky, stood up and said: “Grandmom loved me. she loved me no matter what. She taught me many things that I will always remember, like this prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” I turned to Vicky’s mother and said, “Wow, that was wonderful, She was so brave to stand up and do that, you must be proud.” I rarely ever saw Vicky during her adult life, just at a very few events and by exchanging notes in Christmas cards. I only started visiting her in the hospital the last few weeks of her life. I happened to be with her when she died. That very small bit of connection we had, leading up to her life’s end, showed me how truly brave a girl she was. She bravely faced her illness, her pain, her amputations, and finally her death. She never forgot the serenity prayer her grandmother taught her so long ago. She lived and died by it.