Stephen Charles Green

“Treasured memories keep you near”

Stephen passed away on 23rd July 2021 aged 72 years.

The beloved husband of the late Alma.

Stephen was born in Macclesfield in 1949, but was raised in Crewe and lived the rest of his life here. A clever lad, he went to the Boys Grammar School. He then went on to work in the Tax Office working his way up to being a Tax Inspector.  He hadn’t been particularly good at maths at school but, no worries, he was good at sending out the tax demands. At school he was keen on history, and that interest was to bring him satisfaction throughout his life. And he was good at Scripture, we are told..

It was in the Tax Office that he met Alma. There is a story about a secret courtship which went on a while, but all was to be revealed to the staff at a Tax Office outing to see  Showaddywaddy. Who was this mystery lady Stephen would be bringing? they asked themselves. Well, it was their own work colleague Alma! Anyway, it was a bit of “Let’s go for a little walk under the moon of love” that night.

Well the rest is history as they say. Alma and Stephen were married 3rd May 1980 and held their Reception at The Cross Keys – something you would be hard put to do now! Then honeymoon in London, but a honeymoon with a difference! They were staying in a hotel close to the Iranian Embassy at the same time as there was the famous siege going. You may recall that a number of hostages sadly died as did most of the hostage takers at the end. This was not going to be a boring sort of honeymoon! Talk about fireworks!

So Steve was grafted into a pre-existing family – Alma and her two teenage daughters. Some might have thought “double trouble!”. But no. They all made it work and to Steve’s credit and the other three they became a happy family. Bev and Diane are profoundly grateful to Steve for the way in their teenage years and beyond he was there for them in so many ways, and they have reciprocated his care for them in the care they have shown him.

And then Neil came along, and they have all rallied around to give him the best life possible. It was only a few years ago that the family arranged supported living for him in his own flat  in order to prepare him for what ultimately was bound to happen – and has now happened – no parents to look after him. Steve and Alma loved Neil as the precious child they had between them. There have been further family extensions: grand-daughter Chantal and great-grandchildren Esme and  Alexander.

At first the family lived in Wistaston, then moving almost 40 years ago to 66 Sydney Road, and in recent times  have had a 66 number plate on the car to make sure no one forgets where they lived.

Alma and Steve made a great team. He was the careful thoughtful planner, she more the outgoing one. But together – a happy fruitful team. All those marvellous cruises they went on, for example, and there were lots of other holidays as well! Guess who did the planning, the budgeting, the research? And who did the history bit (clue: remember who was good at history at school)?  Which left Alma to do the shopping bit.

Cruises are not for everyone, but if you like them you really LOVE them! So it was for Alma and Steve. It’s not just the great food and entertainment, but you see places you would not otherwise get to. They cruised the Caribbean, Canada, even Russia, to name a few. Culture, history, geography with lots of sea water thrown in. And generally nice people to get to know on board. Together Alma and Steve made some good friends on those cruises. Friendships which lasted well beyond the cruise.

Alma and Steve did most things together – holidays we’ve talked about, but then there were the quiz nights, the dominoes, the charity collections they did together (collecting the donation boxes for the RNIB). There were also the more individual things Steve did: the planning/budgeting/investing, his sports interests, his interest in politics and current affairs, not forgetting the Agatha Christie novels.

But all these personal interests could not carry Steve forward without Alma. Alma had been a rock to Stephen and her loss lost year was a cruel, severe blow to him. He has not been able to get over that loss.

So we remember today a man of many parts and qualities: talented, methodical, sometimes quite private, other times happy to be part of a group.  We remember his great love for Alma and family, and their love for him. We remember especially the way Alma was his mainstay, the way when she became ill last year she would have been worried about how he would manage after she had gone. And we also think about how, if he had gone first as was his wish, he had made sure she was adequately provided for.

Love, relationships, care are the foundations of our lives. These are important take-aways from the story of Steve’s life.

But while Steve made his mark in the world, and found great joy and interest in his life and had gratitude in his heart, we are also conscious of the shadows and the demons that plagued him. Many – family, friends, professionals – tried to help him, especially Alma of course. Deep down he was grateful for their efforts, and appreciated what they were doing.

But all that is now in the past. The celebration now is that Alma and Stephen are reunited, just as their ashes are soon to be reunited in Crewe Cemetery.

Steve has passed from sight and  touch. But he will never be forgotten; he will never be without the love that sustained him on earth and which he shared among you. May he rest in peace.

His funeral will take place on Friday 6th August 2021 at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 3.30pm

Kind donations in memory of Stephen are going to MIND.

For further information and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447