HEATHSVILLE—Jeanne Hess Stevens, a longtime resident of the Balls Creek area of Heathsville, died unexpectedly but peacefully on the evening of February 2 in her home. She was 94.
Jeanne and her husband of 61 years, the late Dr. Thomas Stevens, moved to the Northern Neck from Bridgewater, N.J., in 1986. They designed and largely self-built their home on a wooded hillside overlooking Balls Creek. The pair enjoyed sailing and rowing on the creek and the Great Wicomico River for most of their retirement years.
A skilled craftswoman, Jeanne taught sewing classes in New Jersey. She created backpacks and tents, repaired tapestry, reupholstered her own furniture, tailored suits and wedding dresses, and created beloved rag dolls for her children and grandchildren. She also baked bread weekly. Jeanne loved classical music and played the piano for most of her life.
In the Northern Neck, Jeanne was a founding member and two-time president of the Five Rivers Fiber Guild of the Heathsville area. Her loom work included area rugs, napkins and placemats. Later, she learned basket weaving and stocked family and friends with a creative assortment of containers.
Jeanne volunteered for many local organizations. She served more than 20 years at the Northumberland Public Library in Heathsville, which came to rely on her to repair broken book bindings. In 1989, she and Thomas became original volunteers with the Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship (NAPS). She and Tom also volunteered at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum and Meals on Wheels. A lifetime learner and avid reader, Jeanne was active in her neighborhood book club until she died.
Born in Bryn Mawr, Pa., on December 24, 1930, Jeanne grew up in Devon, Pa. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953 with a degree in zoology and married Tom the following year. The couple lived in St. Louis, Mo., where Tom completed his post-doctoral research. In 1963, they moved to New Jersey where Tom became dean of students at Rutgers University Medical School and ran the minority students’ program. They raised their four children in Bridgewater and spent most summers canoe camping in Maine, New York and Canada.
Jeanne is survived by her four children, Rebecca A. Stevens and her husband, Stan Gough, of Cheney, Wash; William M. Stevens and his wife, Vicki Brown, of Maynard, Mass; Martha W. Stevens of S. Burlington, Vt.; and Donald B. Stevens and his wife, Ellen McGovern, of Bridgewater, N.J. Jeanne had eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
The family plans to hold a memorial open house for both Jeanne and Tom in the fall.
