Mary Alice (Stephenson) Richardson, 88, of 21109 Brick Rd., South Bend, died at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at her home following an extended illness.

She was born Sept. 6, 1922 in Hickman County, Kent. to James Edward Waldrop and Myrtle White. She lived in South Bend for six years, moving there from Arkansas.

She worked at Niles Precision and a canning factory in Eau Claire. She enjoyed stamping and making personalized cards.

She was married Sept. 22, 1941 in Woodruff County, Ark. to Clarence C. Stephenson, who died Feb. 10, 1985.

She later married Charles Irvin, who preceded her in death.

She married Charles Richardson on July 7, 1975 in South Bend. He died Oct. 12, 1982.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Helen Phillips of Dowagiac, Carol (Gerold) Hufford of Browns, Ill., Joyce (Kenny) Ostrom of Elkhart, Ind., Barbara Roberts of South Bend, Kathy Christman of South Bend, Marlene (Luis) Hernandez of Edwardsburg, Beverly (Glenn) Bell of Elkhart; a son, James (Donna) Stephenson of Bremen, Ind.; 49 grandchildren; 100 great-grandchildren; 38 great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild; brothers, Nathan Waldrop of California and Chuck Waldrop of Niles.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Herb, Clifford and Carthel “Buddy” Stephenson; a brother, Lewis Waldrop; and a sister, Beulah Knefely.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19 at Lift Jesus Higher Ministry in Elkhart with the Rev. Louie Ketchum of New Life Community Church in Dowagiac officiating.

Burial will be at Caldwell Cemetery in Eau Claire.

Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, South Bend.