Mary Beth Stebbins, 62, of Essex, died at her residence on April 2. She was the beloved wife of Richard W. “Rick” Stebbins. Mary Beth was born in Bridgeport, daughter of Raymond and Elizabeth Rose (Hearn) Schuster. She was raised in Wallingford and had been a resident of Essex since 1979.

A registered nurse, Mary Beth was a former school nurse at Essex Elementary School and had been the nursing director of the Lower Valley Nurses Association. She also served the community as the chairwomen of the Essex Housing Authority and was a communicant at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Sarah Ahearn of Milton, Massachusetts, and Kelly Stebbins of South Boston, Massachusetts; her son, Timothy Stebbins of Brooklyn, New York; and her beloved granddaughters, Elizabeth Rose and Madison Grace Ahearn. She is also survived by four brothers, James of Centerbrook, Thomas of Wallingford, Jack of Killingworth, and William Schuster of Westbrook, and her sister, Kathleen Spinner of Lebanon.

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated on April 5 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Essex. Burial with the Nightingale Tribute took place in Resurrection Cemetery, Westbrook. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Essex Housing Authority, 16 Main St., Centerbrook, CT 06409, or to Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 14 Prospect Ave., Essex, CT 06426. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, was in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Mary Beth or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com.