Stephen John O’Leary, 66

Born: Jan. 21, 1947

Died: June 29, 2013

 

Stephen John O’Leary, 66, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Country Manor, Cassopolis.

Stephen was born in Hancock, Mich., and lived in Houghton until his family moved to the Lower Peninsula in the 1950s.

He lived with his parents in Dowagiac and spent his summers at the family cottage in Bootjack, near Lake Linden, Mich., in the Upper Peninsula for more than 20 years. Steve loved the cottage on Portage Lake, especially playing in the sand and water.

Steve loved going for car rides, particularly to look at Christmas decorations.

He took pleasure in listening to music.

Steve has been under the care of Living Alternatives for the Developmentally Disabled (L.A.D.D.) in group homes in the Dowagiac and Cassopolis area for many years.

An autistic person, Steve received excellent care in theses homes from their loving staff. He liked outings and group activities and formed special friendships with the staff.

Steve loved to eat and especially enjoyed going to restaurants with staff and his family. He also received services from Woodlands Mental Health (Cass County) from people who knew and understood him.

Steve is survived by: his guardian and sister Pam (Robert) O’Leary-Morence; his other sisters, Christine Puro and Patricia (James) Collins; his brother, Timothy O’Leary; and his nephew Gregory (Jessica) O’Leary.

His parents, the Rev. William P.D. and Eleanor O’Leary, preceded him in death.

A memorial service for Steve will be held at Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dowagiac on

July 20 at 11 a.m.

Officiating will be Father Carlton Kelley. Cremation was entrusted to Cremation Services of Southwest Michigan. Inurnment will be with his parents in the Resurrection Garden in Kalamazoo.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Living Alternatives for the Developmentally Disabled, 300 Whitney, Dowagiac, MI 49047 in Steve’s name and also to Hospice of Southwestern Michigan, which cared for him in his final days.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Yazel-Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac.

Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Steve at www.yazel-clark.com.