Estella Stone Berven

Estella Stone Berven, age 72, died on Monday, May 2, 2011, after being diagnosed with breast cancer less than two years previously.

Stella was born on June 27, 1938 in Evanston, Illinois to Fred L. Stone and Ada Elizabeth Sweet Stone and was named after her grandmother Estella Mayhew Stone. She grew up in Kenilworth, Illinois and graduated from high school at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Stella earned a B.S. degree in occupational therapy (OT) at Western Michigan University and an M. A. in counseling at San Francisco State University, in addition to graduate study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison leading to certification as an orientation and mobility specialist. She worked as an OT at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; as a rehabilitation counselor at the San Mateo County (CA) Mental Health Service; and as an OT at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey. Most recently, she practiced OT as an orientation and mobility specialist for more than 25 years in Madison, working primarily with people who were blind in learning to travel independently with the help of a long cane or dog guide.

While working at the San Mateo County Mental Health Service, Stella met a new rehabilitation counselor, Norm Berven, who came to work there, just out of graduate school. Norm immediately felt a special connection with her, finding her to be an exceptionally warm, sensitive, sweet, kind, compassionate, and fun person, with a beautiful smile, and he continues to see her as the best counselor with whom he has ever worked. Fortunately for Norm, Stella felt a connection with him, too. They quickly fell in love and, after knowing each other for only seven months, they were married on October 11, 1969 in Sausalito, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Their beloved daughter, Jennifer, was then born in San Francisco on March 13, 1971.

Stella loved most the time that she spent with her family and friends. She was an avid fan of Wisconsin Badger sports, particularly basketball, and also enjoyed movies and theater, in addition to many other interests. She was a long-time member of the Attic Angel Association and P.E.O. Chapter H, in addition to a number of other community organizations.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Fred Stone; and her sister-in-law, Jane Wilson Stone. She is survived by her husband, Norm; daughter, Jennifer of Madison; sister, Elizabeth (Randall) Sass of Mundelein, Illinois; brother, David (Ba) Stone of Vero Beach, Florida; sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Skip) Coggin of Winnetka, Illinois and Naples, Florida; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Arthur and Ruth Berven of Des Moines, Iowa; and sisters-in-law Barbara Berven of Des Moines, Iowa and Margaret (Donald) York of Ankeny, Iowa; in addition to many other relatives and friends.

Stella was a very special and giving person who was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend, dearly loved by many. Stella, Norm, and Jennifer were so grateful for the caring and support of family and friends, particularly in recent months, including Stella's loving sisters of P.E.O. Chapter H. Her particularly special bond with her sister, Elizabeth, has been a mutual source of strength and joy for both of them throughout their adult lives, and the support of HospiceCare has been extraordinarily helpful to Stella and her family in dealing with the final stages of her illness.

A small family service will be held in Stella's memory. Those wishing to offer memorial contributions may want to consider the UW Foundation Norm & Stella Berven Scholarship Fund (www.supportuw.org or US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278); P.E.O. Chapter H (c/o B. Mittelstaedt, 1452 Hanover Place, Waunakee, WI 53597); Attic Angel Association Resident Aid Fund (640 Junction Road, Madison, WI 53717); or HospiceCare Foundation (5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Madison, WI 53711).

Stella was an enormously positive presence in the lives of many, and she will be greatly missed. Her presence will remain in the hearts of Norm, Jennifer, and many other family and friends.