Obituary of Wesley J. Stephen

The death of Dr. Wesley J. Stephen of Saint John, husband of Lillian May (Anderson) Stephen (of 55 years), occurred at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday, December 12, 2004. Dr. Stephen was born in Saint John on July 30, 1923, a son of the late Louis and Eva (George) Stephen. He was educated in local schools and graduated from St. Vincent's Boys High School in 1940. Following pre-medicine education at St. Francis Xavier University, he received his medical degree from McGill University in 1948. After obtaining surgical training at Dalhousie University he practiced surgery in Saint John for 40 years. Dr. Stephen educated several generations of surgeons as a Lecturer of Surgery at Dalhousie University. He was a member of numerous medical associations and was honored as a Life Member of both the Canadian Medical Association and the New Brunswick Medical Society. He had been a board member of the Saint John Foundation and M.D. Management. He was a Past-P resident of the Canadian Lebanon Association and a longstanding member of Riverside Golf and Country Club. He was pre-deceased by six brothers, Joseph, Frederick 'Bud', Peter, Paul, Louis, and Ralph; and two sisters, Barbara and Theresa Stephen. Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons, David (Dianne) of Rothesay, Richard (Patty) of Rothesay, Robert of Saint John, and Dr. Wesley (Charlene) of Hamilton, Ont.; five daughters, Theresa Mooney (Estyl) of Parkhill, Ont., Patricia Sassine of Rothesay, Kathleen Phillips (Bruce) of Riverview, Elizabeth Wilson (Brian) of Saint John, and Judith Stephen of Vancouver; one brother, Michael (Beatrice) of Oakville, Ont.; two sisters, Geraldine Stephen and Madeline Zed, both of Saint John; 16 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Resting at Fitzpatrick's Funeral Home, 100 Waterloo St., with visiting on Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. Interment will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dr. David Stephen Memorial Fund, the Children's Wish Foundation, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.