In words read by her brother Patrick Sweetman, architect Sam Stephenson's wife Caroline spoke of him in a eulogy at the end of his Requiem Mass in the St Francis Xavier church on Dublin's Gardiner Street yesterday.
"He was my saviour, my big white knight in shining armour. Well, perhaps my little white knight in a linen suit! He put me back together and made me strong. He believed in me. He gave me everything and most of all our two boys of whom he was so proud . . I don't know how we're going to live without him, but I know he will always be with us."
She continued: "I would like to thank Sam's first wife Bernie for always being so generous and kind to me. Bernie is burying her husband today too. I'd like to thank Sam and Bernie's children, Karin, Mark, Bronwyn and Sam, for their acceptance of me. It was not at all easy for them and they have been so good."
Sam Stephenson (72) died last Thursday at St James's Hospital Dublin, following heart surgery. Chief celebrant at his Requiem Mass was Fr Enda McDonagh, who was assisted by Fr Michael Hurley, parish priest of Leixlip Co Dublin, and Fr Philip Corcoran, parish priest of Confey, Co Dublin. Both parishes are near the Stephenson home.
"Sam had become very religious in the past few years, becoming a daily Mass goer," Ms Sweetman Stephenson said.
In her eulogy Karin Harris, Sam Stephenson's daughter, said that when the family remember him, "we think of learning, laughter and our house full of people celebrating and discussing passionately".
She continued: "He instilled in us an understanding and recognition of an unspoken duty of care in relation to people who need a helping hand from time to time . . . He was extremely discreet about this generosity . . . We estimate it flowed from his sense of gratitude that he overcame poverty and poor health early in his life to soar with eagles."
The gospel reading was from John, Chapter 14 - "in my father's house there are are many mansions". Fr McDonagh described it as "an architectural gospel, in a way", during his homily. His feeling was that the first thing Sam would say on arrival among those mansions was "we've got to redesign this place!" Those like Sam, whether architect or artist, were "manifestations of our God, a continuation of creativity", he said. Sam was "a hospitable man who liked to host people . . . and was also, as near as possible, the perfect guest." He "was generous. He was fun."
Fr McDonagh concluded with the poem Love Bade Me Welcome by the Anglican priest and poet, George Herbert.
Chief mourners were Sam Stephenson's wife Caroline, their sons Sebastian and Zachary, his first wife Bernadette Stephenson and their children Karin, Mark, Bronwyn and Sam. The Taoiseach was represented by Comdt Michael Murray ADC. Also in attendance was former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald.
