“He has no enemies because he knows not how to make them.”
Francis J. Stevens, 86, husband of Sandra (Chowaniec) Stevens, of Rocky Hill, passed away February 19, 2020 in the West Haven VA Medical Center. He was born in Hartford, son of the late Francis and Julia (Hayes) Stevens. Fran was a graduate of Wethersfield High School and after graduation served in the US Army as Military Police, stationed in Germany. He worked as a carpenter, building homes with Newt Griswold, and as a Firefighter for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, before leaving to start his own business, the Pantry Shelf Grocery in Rocky Hill. Fran later worked for Connecticut Transit Company as a Night Foreman. He was a Horse Show Dad, hauling the horses to shows and helping groom them. Fran had a true love for his children and grandchildren, helping to fix things and working in the yard and around the pool. The true strength of their family was in his relationship with his wife of 60 years, Sandra.
Besides his wife, Fran leaves his children, Kelly Carone and her husband Jon, of Rocky Hill, Kristie Stevens of Middlebury, Fran Stevens and his wife Lisa of Rocky Hill, Tim Stevens and his wife Christie of Rocky Hill and Kathleen Stevens of Pilot Point, TX. He will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Karlee Carone, Aiden Stevens, Macklin Stevens, Caleb Stevens, Emma Stevens, Abagail Trowbridge and Evan Trowbridge, who knew him as “Papa.” Fran was predeceased by his daughter Kristie’s partner, Mert Sartre.
A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, Connecticut, 06516-2770, The Horseman’s Distress Fund, 236 Henry Sanford Road, Bridgewater, CT 06752 or The Rocky Hill Historical Society, PO Box 185, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-0185.
The Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Wethersfield has care of the arrangements. To extend condolences, or for further information, please visit Farleysullivan.com.