Obituary of Gregory Raymond Stephen

It is with deep sadness that Rev. Father Peter Stephen and his sister Brenda McIntyre (Stephen) announce the death of their cousin Gregory Raymond Stephen, who died at the Moncton Hospital on Thursday, January 12, 2017 after a brave battle with cancer. Gregory was born in Saint John, NB on October 8,1948, the son of Frederick (Bud) Stephen and Vera Stephen (Cross), both deceased, and was the second eldest of the 33 grandchildren of the late Sir Louis Stephen and Eva Stephen (George). Gregory is survived by his two sisters Sheila Ann Stephen Spooner of Tucson, Arizona, Jane Emily May Stockton of California, his nephew David Stephen of Vancouver, BC, and three aunts, Lillian and Leona (Lee) of Saint John, and Pusser of Halifax, along with his many Stephen Family cousins. Gregory was born in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish and spent most of his younger years as a member of Holy Trinity Parish. As a young musician, Gregory was a member of several bands and best known as a member and lead singer of one of Saint John’s first successful rock bands, the Hodads, with well known musician and dear friend Peter Kindred in the 1960's. Later Greg worked at several jobs in the food service industry, as a labourer and a carpenter for a number of years and as a barber in Vancouver and Montreal. Relatives and friends who would like to pay their last respects are invited to the time of visitation at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, 634-7424, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm on Tuesday, January 17th. The following day, on Wednesday, January 18th, his body will be transferred to Holy Trinity Church, Rockland Road, for a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 noon, to be celebrated by his cousin Father Peter Stephen. Immediately following the Funeral Mass, everyone is invited to gather for a reception at Brenan’s Funeral Home on Paradise Row. At his request, Gregory will be cremated following the Funeral Mass with the interment to take place the next day, Thursday, January 19th at 11 am, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in the Stephen Family plot, beside his father Frederick (Bud) Stephen, who died in March of 1994. For those who wish, donations in Gregory’s memory can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Gregory will be fondly remembered and dearly missed, and all are asked to remember him in their prayers as we pray for the repose of his soul and all of the souls in Purgatory. May he rest in peace.