Lake Bluff Obituary: Stephanie Barbara Doherty, 92

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home.

Stephanie Barbara Doherty, 92, of Lake Bluff, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2016 at her home with her family by her side. Loving wife of the late John T. Doherty. Loving mother of Lynn Doherty Payne, Brian Doherty and Adrienne Doherty and Patricia Doherty Hess. Loving mother-in-law of Wayne Hess and Carrie Bruen Holcomb. Loving grandmother of Vanessa Payne Petersen, Colin Doherty, Blaire Doherty Brar, Breanne Doherty, Jonathan Hess and Alexandra Hess and great grandmother to Alsea Petersen and Ethan Brar. She has survived her siblings, Veronica Kukuc Darlington, Helen Miller, Anthony Kukuc and John Kukuc.
Born to Alexandra and Dominick Kukuc in New Britain Connecticut and raised in Stamford Connecticut. Stephanie was a loving child and a free spirit, always on her beloved bike as well as a creative personality who designed her own clothes. As an art student studying at Pratt Institute, she loved painting and design, gazing at New York store windows and went on to find many outlets for her creativity. A love for people, animals and nature informed her enthusiasm for life.
Stephanie met John Doherty in Manhattan while working in advertising in December of 1945. They were married the following May. First living on Long Island sound, Stephanie shared with her family a love of the sea and the salt air of the Atlantic. Something she would miss when the family made Lake Bluff, Illinois their new home.
The Church of Saint Mary in Lake Forest Illinois became her new spiritual home after moving with her family from N.Y. to Lake Bluff, Illinois in 1969. She was the president of St. Pascal’s Guild in the 1970’s, an editor of The Church of Saint Mary Bulletin during that same period, an extraordinary minister at The Church of Saint Mary in the 1980’s and filled in with various forms of volunteer work.
Stephanie’s faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church was profound. Praying the Rosary became her mainstay for the rest of her life.
She was often praying for those she knew and for many she had not met. She impressed many with her spark of vitality, sense of humor and generosity.
We will be forever thankful to Stephanie’s devoted care givers, especially Ursula, who for the last year tended to her every need with love and affection and for this demonstration will always be considered a cherished member of the family.
Sarah, Maria and Gabriella were also attending angels by Stephanie’s side, praying with her and ensuring her comfort and peace of mind.
All of us, Stephanie’s adoring family, are inspired by her spirit, her endurance, and especially by her endless, unconditional love.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, January 6th at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 Vine Avenue, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 between 5:00PM and 8:00PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 7th at 10:00 AM at The Church of Saint Mary, 175 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest Illinois 60045. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Lake Forest, Illinois. Donations can be made in Stephanie’s honor to: St. Mary’s Church, 175 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 and The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis Motherhouse, 1175 St. Francis Lane, East Peoria, IL 61611-1299.