A private funeral Mass was celebrated for Deacon Richard (Dick) L. Stevens Nov. 18 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in High Ridge. Deacon Stevens died Nov. 13 at the age of 81.
A public memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
Deacon Stevens was preceded in death by his wife Nancy. He is the father of four children, Cheryl Hughes, Michael Stevens, Christine Stevens-Wall and the late Kevin Stevens.
Deacon Stevens was ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 3, 2000, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis by Cardinal Justin Rigali. He was assigned and assisted the pastor of St. Boniface Parish in St Louis from 2000-2005, St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish in St Louis from 2005-2009, and St. Anthony of Padua in High Ridge from 2009-2020.
He served his parishes by presiding at baptisms, weddings, funerals and Communion services. He also took Holy Communion to the sick and homebound and to those in nursing facilities. Deacon Stevens was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
