Obituary of Lillian MacNeill Stephens

Lillian MacNeill Stephens passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Thursday, April 4, 2019 in Middlebury, VT. Lilla was born May 19, 1931, to William and Sara Sharkey in Plymouth, MA; where Lilla's love of sailing was nurtured, as she and her sister, Sue, spent their summers competing in local races on Cape Cod Bay. Lilla proudly graduated from Plymouth High School and Middlebury College, where she met her future husband, Frank Kelly MacNeill. Lilla and Kelly were married in 1952 and soon afterward moved to Lake Placid, where they raised three children, while Kelly taught at Northwood School. Lilla was a great mom, whose loving maternal instincts stretched far beyond her own children. Her endless smile and fun-loving nature made Lilla the consummate hostess. She loved to entertain, whether planning her renowned New Year's Eve parties or preparing for a more intimate dinner with friends at Oki, Lilla was in her element bringing people together to socialize, bond and grow as friends. She created a community that lasted a lifetime. A woman of understanding and compassion, Lilla spent many years making a difference by volunteering her time to a wide variety of initiatives. In later years, she would speak with great fondness of her time at Uihlein Mercy Center and with the Garden Club of Lake Placid. Lilla's cheerful and outgoing personality assisted her in her careers, first as a teacher and later at several clothing stores on Main Street and then as a hostess at The Cottage, where she loved meeting new people and working with the other staff, who became a second family to her. Lilla loved to cook and got a lot of practice over the years. During her time entertaining, she mastered baking, with her famous rum and Kahlua cakes catching the eye and taste buds of several chefs in the area, but her passion was to make cakes for family and friends. When time permitted, Lilla loved to read and found peace in the solitude of sitting amid the trees surrounding the porch at her adored Adirondack camp, Oki. In 1979 Lilla unexpectedly became a widow and eventually found love again, marrying Robert Stevens in 1982. Lilla then moved to Hilton, NY to live with Bob and his four children. Lilla returned to substitute teaching until Bob retired when their new routine became wintering in Florida, where they found many new and dear friends and spending the summer back at much-loved Oki in Lake Placid. Lilla was predeceased by her parents, husband Kelly MacNeill and second husband, Robert Stephens. She is survived and will be greatly missed by her cherished sister, Suzanne White, of Plymouth MA and three children, Suzanne Watson (Gary) of Wilmington, NY; William MacNeill (Margot) of Lake Placid, NY; and Katherine Nestor (Peter) of Rock City Falls, NY. Her four stepchildren, Robert Stephens (Choiling) of Virginia Beach, VA; Beth Cassidy (Christopher), of Bloomfield, NY; Karen Stephens of St. Petersburg, FL; and Gordon Stephens of Hilton, NY. Her eight grandchildren, Tyler Watson, Kelly Watson, Shaun Nestor, Caroline Stephens, Jessica Gardner, Dustin Gardner, Mark Robert Stephens, and Nicholas Stephens as well as treasured great grandchildren, and beloved nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held in Lake Placid on Friday, April 12, 2019 at the M.B. Clark Funeral Home from 11:00 AM until 12:45 PM followed by a Mass of Christian burial celebrated at St. Agnes Church at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to North Country Life Flight, and the Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service. Relatives and friends are invited to share a memory, or leave condolences at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com .