Ryan P. Stevens, 16, passed away Friday, July 29, 2005 with his friend Patrick McGovern, as a result of injuries sustained in a horrible automobile accident. He is the beloved son of David A. and Susan E. (Tefft) Stevens, brother to Jessica and Cara. He is survived by his paternal grandparents, Catherine (Tangney) Stevens of Worcester and Victor Stevens of Ft. Lauderdale, maternal grandmother, Eileen (Costello) Tefft of Worcester. His maternal grandfather Robert E. Tefft, Sr. passed away on July 2nd. Ryan also leaves behind many aunts uncles, cousins and friends who love him dearly.

Ryan lit up the room and brought laughter to all. His kind heart and gentle ways were the qualities that drew people to him. Ryan was blessed with great friends who shared many special moments throughout the years. People, young and old, looked up to him for his charismatic personality, strength and energy. Ryan was always willing to help anyone in need. He will be remembered by all for his random sense of humor and ability to make anyone laugh at any moment. Ryan was a good brother who loved his sisters and wanted to protect them.

Some of Ryan’s favorite pastimes were: playing basketball, working out, chillin’ with friends, and working on cars.

Ryan worked at Shaw’s Supermarket and as a roofing worker during the summer. He was developing into a fine young man who understood the value of hard work and the responsibility that comes with growing up.

He was born in Worcester, and was to enter the 11th grade at St. Peter-Marian High School . Ryan was a member of St. George’s Church, the St. Peter-Marian High School Basketball Team and the YMCA. He was active in sports and had played Worcester Youth Soccer, Greendale Flag Football and with the Joe Schwartz Baseball program. 

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                                   Angel Butterfly

Ryan is still with us always.  We have been blessed to have had many signs from him to let us know that he is always here with us.

About 2 weeks after he passed away, I had a visitor which was a very different looking butterfly. It was brown, with lavender across its back.                       

The butterfly landed next to me as I sat in the backyard. I picked up the butterfly and carried it into the house to get my camera. The butterfly stayed on my hand the whole time. It stayed 3 days on our sun porch and let me hold it often for an hour at a time. It flew onto my shoulder and stayed there for a long time. The butterfly let my daughter pick it up and it stayed on her hand for a while, but it flew away when her friend tried to pick it up. One night the butterfly stayed on the angel plaque on the wall of the sun porch and the next night it stayed right by the sign that says “Leave Room in Your Garden for Angels to Dance”. On Sunday he was at the window flapping his wings. I knew that he needed to leave, because he couldn’t survive on our porch much longer. I put him on my hand and opened the screen door. He stayed on my hand for about 15 minutes with his back to me, turned around and faced me and then flew off. He flew to our bedroom window and stayed there for a few hours and when we returned from church he was gone. I definitely believe that the butterfly was my “Angel Ryan”. This experience was a wonderful sign from God telling us that Ryan is OK and in heaven. There has been a lot of research done on this butterfly. After checking many resources and sending pictures of the butterfly to butterfly experts around the world, the butterfly cannot be placed into any species that is known by these experts. Ryan, although you have flown away, you will forever be a treasure in our hearts.
By Sue Stevens, Ryan’s loving Mom 

Since that time our family has had many more encounters with butterflies.  We truly believe that Ryan's spirit is with us through these butterflies.

“A butterfly lights beside us
Like a sunbeam,
And for a brief moment
Its glory and beauty
Belong to our world.
But then it flies on again,
And though we wish
It could have stayed,
We feel lucky to have seen it.”   
                                  author unknown

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Ryan and Pat were blessed to be best friends. We know that they are together now in heaven having as much fun and laughter as ever.  You can visit Patrick McGovern's Memorial Website at: 
 http://patrick-mcgovern.memory-of.com/