Jayne Kathryn (Moses) Stephenson, 69, passed away at 9:06 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Bria of Godfrey, after a battle with lupus pneumonitis.
She was born on August 8, 1955, in St. Charles, Missouri, to the late Ralph J. and Genevieve K. (Arnold) Moses. She was raised in Golden Eagle, Illinois, attended St. Mary’s grade school in Brussels, Illinois and went on to graduate from Villa Duchesne High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Jayne then earned a degree in political science at the University of Illinois in Champaign before obtaining a paralegal certification from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois.
Following her graduation from the University of Illinois, Jayne married Mark Stephenson. From that marriage came Jayne’s only child; her son Robert. Jayne selflessly chose to take a break from the career that she loved to be fully present during her son’s early years. Jayne did a great job for her family as a stay-at-home parent. As a mother she was and always will be irreplaceable.
Jayne later rejoined the work force with a part-time role at the Downers Grove Public Library in Downers Grove, Ilinois. From there, she re-entered her career as a paralegal, working at various law firms in the Chicago and St. Louis metro areas. Jayne rounded out the last decade of her professional life as a paralegal with Wehrenburg Theatres in St. Louis.
In her spare time, Jayne enjoyed volunteering, had a passion for reading, found peace in yoga, and also had a deep love for music. Earlier in her life Jayne played the piano, and even in her later years she would sing along with classic rock as it played on the radio.
During the last decade of Jayne’s life, she lived with dementia. She fought her memory loss with quiet bravery. Even while she was losing the ability to work, the ability to drive and countless other things, she never lost her sense of humor. Jayne laughed at funny greeting cards her son gave her on holidays, smiled easily during visits with her family, and cracked jokes with the Memory Care staff. If humor, gratitude and grace in the face of life’s losses is a form of strength, then Jayne was incredibly strong.
The family would like to thank the Villas of Holly Brook in Jerseyville, Illinois for their warmth, kindness and caring while Jayne was a resident there.
Jayne is survived by her son, Robert Stephenson of Lafayette, Indiana, two brothers, Ralph Jr. “Jack” (Pat) Moses of Golden Eagle, Illinois and Lloyd D. Moses of St. Paul, Minnesota, along with many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
Private services were held, and Jayne was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Brussels.
Donations in remembrance of Jayne may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America (https://lupus.org) to support the fight against lupus.
The kind and selfless acts Jayne performed while she was alive are still appreciated, and her inner strength is still admired. She is deeply missed, and is still loved very much.
