Terri Stevens, restaurateur and 15-year GIST survivor

Terri L. Stevens of Colchester, Conn., a 15-year survivor of GIST, succumbed to the disease July 19, 2005. She was 42. Born in Hartford, Conn., she was the youngest daughter of Josephine and the late Walter Remillard. She grew up in Hartford and East Harford, and had resided in Colchester for the past 13 years. Terri owned The Doc Stop restaurant in Hartford since 1995. She loved the challenge of operating a business, creating recipes, and engaging new people every day. “You couldn’t help but eventually learn some degree of acceptance, patience, and perseverance in her presence,” a friend recently remarked, “… all the while being nurtured with great pasta sauce, soups, desserts and turkey melts.” Terri always believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. Among her many passions were gardening, cooking, flowers, family, friends and entertaining, as well as raising her many roosters, chickens, goats, dogs, rabbits and maras. Joe Stevens says he and his wife rarely spent a day apart in the past 22 years, “and we never went a day without at least talking to one another. Terri remained my confidant, teacher, my friend and above all, my family.” Those who knew Terri knew her to be endlessly passionate, creative, driven, nurturing, tireless, positive, enthusiastic and generous to a fault. She was never one to sit on the fence with an issue or her feelings. She loved family, had an eagerness to laugh, and a willingness to embrace life. She had the courage to pursue her dreams, love unconditionally, and consistently challenged herself and those around her to become better people. In addition to her mother and husband, Terri is survived by her six brothers and sisters: Carol Sirois, Jo- Ann Gagne, Laverne Devin, Walter L. Remillard Jr., Francis X. Remillard, Richard A. Remillard; and many nieces and nephews. “She touched the lives of those that knew her and left her fingerprints upon all our hearts,” says Joe. “While we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her wonderful life.”