Celebrant Pam Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Funeral Celebrant Los Angeles

Returning home to Glendale
Contributed by: Pam Vetter

9/26/06 Valley News Article

Donnie Beryl McManus Stephan was remembered in Glendale.
Provided by: The Stephan Family

Doniece McManus Stephan, who was born and raised in Glendale, home for final rest.

As a single spirit dove flew over Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, it was joined by a flock of white doves who circled briefly and flew home together.

Today, Doniece Stephan came home to Glendale where many of her relatives have been laid to rest. She lived with her son's family for more than seven years and died peacefully in Hospice care at Walnut Manor in Anaheim on September 13, 2006. She was 81.

The celebrant memorial service detailed Donnie's life story and included her favorite music from the Glenn Miller Band.

Her nephew, Illustrator Steve Gugerty, organized and assembled an amazing DVD presentation, which was filled with home movies from the late 1930's and early 1940's, along with pictures throughout Donnie's life. The DVD, which was set to personal music, brought tears, moments of laughter, and smiles from family and friends.

Doniece Beryl McManus was born to Sarah and Bernard McManus in a Glendale hospital in November 1924. She was the second born child and soon her nickname was Donnie. Her siblings included an older brother, Wylie, who had polio, a younger sister, Patricia, and a younger brother, Terry.

Her father built one of the first homes on Prospect Drive above Forest Lawn in Glendale. They had a wonderful view of the valley. Her father worked as a businessman at a credit bureau collection agency. Her mother was a dedicated housewife and mother.

The family survived the Great Depression of the 1930's through hard work. During the war years, the family participated in air raid practices. When the sirens went off in Glendale, all of the lights had to be turned off at homes and businesses. The family watched as the lights went out from Los Angeles to Burbank. Lockheed was always the last one to turn off their lights.

During the early years, the McManus family recorded many home movies, which remain in pristine condition. To see a family from 1940, twirling around for cameras, it is like watching a period piece of time gone by. But, it was real footage that reminded us what Donnie's life was like growing up. It looked like the happiest times in her life.

As a teen, she danced around her front driveway while wearing a brand new coat she received as a gift. Her mother and her little sister, Pat, smiled for the camera as they gathered for another moving picture. Donnie dressed in a homemade costume in yet another moving picture. The DVD shown at the memorial service was filled with happy family moments captured on film and still photography.

During her childhood, Donnie was good at sports and excelled at ping pong. She also loved ice skating. In fact, the McManus kids went ice skating at the Polar Palace Ice Rink every Friday night. When she was 16-years-old, she met Harlan Stephan at the ice palace. It was love at first sight and the couple started dating.

Harlan was working for the Southern California Telephone Company at the time and on special days, he'd climb a telephone pole near her home, tap into the phone line, and call her. Donnie talked to him on the phone and then looked out of her window to see him waving. It was an amazing courtship and Harlan was very romantic.

On February 4, 1943, the couple was married in the McManus family home in Glendale. Not long after, Harlan voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army, following a family tradition to support our country. Donnie was by Harlan's side when he was sent to Stanford for Army Specialized Training. While he was in training, Donnie worked at an almond company, working at the conveyor belt, sorting out bad almonds. Later, she quit the job when she got sick from inhaling the almond dust.

Harlan was sent overseas in late 1943. Donnie returned to Glendale to work at the Sound Equipment Corporation as a secretary. Donnie and Harlan corresponded by mail while Harlan served our country from 1943 to 1946. He saw a lot of combat, including the horrors of Auschwitz, but the letter writing kept his spirits up.

Harlan focused on their future, writing in one letter from June 1944: "All I can do is think about how happy we will be after the war because I hope you still love me the way I love you. Just can't wait til I see you again. All the love in the world, from Harlan."

One year after Harlan returned home, Donnie gave birth to their son, Gary, who was born in Los Angeles. In 1950, the family moved to Whittier and later to Downey where Gary had a wonderful upbringing. Harlan helped start Little League in Downey. Donnie was very supportive and attended all of Gary's baseball games.

In 1957, Donnie and Harlan adopted a second son, Lee, whose mother was a teenager from the East Coast. Donnie was thrilled to watch his birth.

Harlan got a job working for the Mutual Credit Bureau and later opened his own credit service. Donnie helped out by doing books. They had a wonderful working relationship.

Donnie was thrilled when Gary married Gayle in 1978. She was pleased to welcome her grandson, Tim Stephan, and decades later, a great-grandson, Thomas.

Over the years, she spent a lot of time with her sister, Pat. In fact, the sisters got their hair done every Friday and on the way home they stopped at Polly's Pies for lunch. Donnie Stephan used the same hairdresser for 46 years. Donnie was devoted and loyal to those she loved and appreciated.

The hardest part of her life was losing those she loved, many of whom are laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. She lost her parents, three of her siblings, her husband, her son, Lee, and other relatives. But, the best years of her life were spent with her family.

Donnie Stephan was remembered in the memorial service as a woman who loved to laugh, a woman with a quick wit, and a truly elegant lady who hated wearing the same outfit twice. She enjoyed watching the Angels baseball games and NASCAR races with her son, Gary. She also loved her 8-year-old dog, a Schnauzer, named Heidi.

Donnie's final words to her family were: "I'm happy. I've lived a long life. Don't cry...Smile. I want to see you smile."

Donnie Stephan made so many people smile through life. The closing song used in the memorial service was "Smile," by Nat King Cole.

Donnie's sister, Pat Gugerty, read a poem during the memorial service in memory of her sister. Donnie's daughter-in-law, Gayle Stephan, shared detailed memories of their life together and read a special poem at graveside.

As the doves flew into the distance at her graveside service, the song "Paint the Sky with Stars," by Enya, played in the background. We were reminded that Donnie's spirit had flown home to Glendale in a final farewell.

The service was held at Forest Lawn Glendale at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather church. Memorial donations are welcome in her name to Greyhound Pets of America at www.greyhoundpets.org.

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