STEPHEN MICHAEL LOPEZ
March 3rd, 1960 - January 17th, 2012
I am very saddened on the passing of Cousin Stephen, but, I know he is in a much better place free of pain and beside his Mother, rest their souls.
Remembering Stephen while I was growing up with him, he & I were like brothers. As far as I can recall, when Aunt Joe's family was living on Cochran right around the corner from Grandma Esther, I was always there playing and learning life lessons. Aunt Joe, Stephan, Diane, and Donald were a real loving family and they have always have had a special place in my heart and memory when I was young.
When I was going to Hancock Park School in Los Angeles, CA, I was having problems with my peers and Stephen would always talk and make sense on how to deal with others which helped improved my life at the time. He would always stand up for me as I was weak in character.
When the Lopez Family moved to Cantara Street in Canoga Park, Aunt Joe had many family gatherings and I spent many times there. I remember playing lots with Disney characters and Hot Wheels. We were pretty cute kids for sure.
We spent lots of time with Grandma, I means LOTS of time with her. Stephen wanted, since he was a kid, to become a Lawyer just like her and he did just that w/perseverance and determination.
Grandma always said; "You can be anything you want to be as long as you WANT to do it."
Stephen to me was always the storyteller of the family all the way until he died which to me was a blessing in disguise. The amount of history he knew about the family was really amazing! I was always impressed on how much he knew.
Stephen was also a very instrumental inspiration to my Sister, Deborah, my Nephew, Dylan, and my Niece, Alexis when they were growing up.
I will miss his canter, his practical reasoning, and his magical & kindred spirit for he believed in everything that is good and great in people,
I will and will always love you Cousin…
The above is what I'll be reading aloud tomorrow afternoon at my late Cousin's wake
Sta.sh
on 5/18/12
's made for the occasion. 
by Michelle aka 
Sadness 
and shared with family and friends during the holidays 
