Dennis Funeral Homes

Carol E. Stevens, age 72 of Waseca, died on Monday April 14, 2008 surrounded by her family and caregivers at Lakeshore Inn Nursing Home in Waseca, MN after struggling with failing health for several years.

Born on a farm in Waldorf, MN in 1935, she was the daughter of Beatrice and Art Hawkins. They later moved to Waseca where she graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1953. She married Gerald (Jerry) Stevens of Owatonna on October 31, 1953 where she was happily married for 40+ years until his sad passing in 1994. She worked for Herter’s for a short time as a secretary where she had an opportunity to write some of the famous catalog copy for the Herter’s catalogs and spent summers picking peas and corn for Birdseye. Shortly after marriage, she joined her husband stationed in Germany where they resided and traveled Europe for two years. Upon return, they started a family and became a wonderful mother to five children. During this time, she lived throughout Minnesota in Waseca, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Winona, Rochester, Duluth and eventually back to Waseca. She committed much of her life to staying home and raising a family, but had an opportunity to work at a job she loved for a brief time in the late seventies as an administrative assistant for the Dean of Housing for the College of St. Theresa’s in Winona. She was devout in her Catholic faith throughout her life and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. She enjoyed painting, gardening, dancing, camping, and spending time with family.

Carol is survived by five children: Terry Stevens (DeNise) of St. Paul, Sue Hagenbarth of Waseca, Kathy Kronebusch (Don) of Waseca, Bob Stevens (Sandy) of Rochester, and Linda Shober (Dan) of Taylors Falls, MN; 12 grandchildren: Hannah Stevens, John Sorenson (Sas), Joshua Sorenson, Michael Hagenbarth, Heidi Neidt (Mike), Dan Kronebusch (Tricia), Deanna Zak (Kevin), Adam Kronebusch, Sarah Stommes (Jeremy), Ryan Stevens (Trudy) , Luke Stevens, & Olivia Shober; 2 step grandchildren: Rose Hagenbarth (Jason) and Brianna Kendrick; and 9 great-grandchildren: MaryEllen, Damien, Aleighya, Chase, Faith, Zoey, Molly, Ty, and Ethan. She is also survived by one sister, Pat (John) Jensen of Janesville.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers Robert Hawkins and James Hawkins.

Visitation will be held at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca on Wednesday April 16, 2008 from 4-8 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. 

Funeral services will be held on Thursday April 17, 2008 at 1:30 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca.