Marijane Stephan Castells

Marijane Stephan Castells, age 90, passed away peacefully in her home on the evening of Saturday, Aug 28, 2021, after enduring Alzheimer’s disease. She looked at her husband of 63 years and grasped his hand, with family members around her bed singing “Amazing Grace” as she breathed her last.

Born in Lima, OH, May 12, 1931, Marijane was the only daughter of Howard and Jane Stephan who predeceased her, along with brothers George “Bud” Stephan and Marshall Stephan. She had a long career as a registered nurse, but her real loves were music and drama. Before marriage she wrote, directed, and accompanied for musicals and plays. When her children were little, she taught them to sing, and they all grew up to love music as much as she did. The musicality extended to her grandchildren, and now some of her great-grandchildren sing and take music lessons.

She loved to entertain visitors, especially family, and many of them have fond memories of dinners and evenings of singing around the piano at Abuelita’s house. A cookbook was made to preserve her wonderful pie recipes and every year her daughters make her traditional Christmas cookies in her honor.

In early adulthood, Marijane converted to Roman Catholicism and formed the hope and intention of becoming a saint, a goal she faithfully pursued her entire life. She was a wise guide and counselor on all things spiritual. She leaves behind her husband, Carlos Onofre Castells, Sr., four adult children: Maria Elliott (John), Carlos O. Castells, Jr. (Sharon Hogan), Margarita C. Noyes, and Pepe M. Castells (Zsuzsanna), as well as 13 beloved grandchildren: Ian, Sy, Kristin, Kathryn, Jane, John, Bradford, Michelle, Carlos, Tiffany, Tobias, Cayla, and Cate, and 9 great-grandchildren who are full of good memories of her excellent life. She served as a model and “road map” for a life well-lived and a reassurance that, in the words of Julian of Norwich, “All will be well; all will be well; all manner of things will be well,” or as Marijane used to say, “If I need it, I will have it; If I don’t have it, I don’t need it.”

Our loss is Heaven’s gain. Resurget! Allelujah!

Funeral services begin at St. Phillip’s Catholic Church, 7500 St. Philips Ct, Falls Church, VA, at 10:30 am, followed by interment at 1:00pm at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA.