Lori Stevens, born Lori Esther Anderson, died in her sleep peacefully the morning of March 8th at the age of 59 after a heroic year-long battle with brain cancer. Daughter of Charlotte Marie Lehto and David Anderson, she took immense pride in being the youngest of seven children who have deep roots in Concord (Janice, Bonnie, Beverly, Jennifer, Donna, and David are her siblings — and Karen a devoted sister-in-law). From an extraordinarily young age she was fascinated with the town's heritage and the family's connection to it. Whether it was Thoreau's teachings, the mineral composition of the family's artesian well water, an arrowhead found in the woods, or the health of the soil near wild edible fungi, she wanted to learn about it and uncover new truths. As a child she was sometimes referred to as "Lolita" (which she playfully hated), and her siblings remember her as determined, adventurous, and full of surprises. A young Lori had long colt legs and a striking mane of sandy blonde hair, at times down to her waist. She loved to make a scene during big family station wagon rides, and found joy in playing records and dancing with her sisters to songs like "Chantilly Lace" by The Big Boppers or "Whipped Cream" by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. When making up dance moves together, she was so serious about getting it just right — a sign of detail orientation that would stick with her the rest of her life. In her teenage years Lori developed into a talented artist and photographer. After Concord-Carlisle High School she studied briefly at Massachusetts College of Art and The New England School of Photography, before moving to New York to work in the creative arts. Throughout her life she was celebrated for her "eye" -- everything she touched was beautiful. She was endlessly fascinated by the interconnectedness of nature, humanity and the spiritual world, which was ever-present in her artistic style and taste. Perhaps the greatest joy of her life was motherhood, and she got to experience it in two very distinct chapters. In her mid-twenties she had a son and daughter Lucas and Charlotte (Henesy) who she raised bravely as a single mom, and was proud to have sent them both off to college after they finished at Concord-Carlisle like their mother. In her late forties she met Chris with whom she enjoyed a whirlwind romance blossoming during an extended trip to Australia after which they became engaged and married in 2011. They were blessed with the miracle of twins, Lori giving birth to Lilly and Fisher (Stevens) in 2014. In both chapters of her life as a mother, she felt such a deep sense of pride and accomplishment in nurturing and watching her children blossom. Her greatest gift beyond motherhood and artistic talent was her ability to observe someone's exquisitely unique, interesting, and radiant attributes even after a brief interaction. And she would make certain to share her adoration, ensuring you walked away feeling that much more confident and special after meeting her. When the compliments were returned however, she became endearingly bashful and humble, dismissive of too much attention or praise. Though not something she enjoyed calling attention to, it was impossible to miss how extraordinarily gorgeous Lori was; a poised and timeless beauty with an effortlessly chic style influenced by her years in New York. Her outer glow was further amplified by her genuine kindness and pure heart. An aficionado and expert in design, Lori loved creating tasteful and functional spaces for people to come together and celebrate the joys of life. Encouraged by her husband Chris, she created a store called Retro Grade in Newton specializing in mid-century modern home furnishings she hand-picked. And in partnership with him, she spent over 8 years creating her dream summer home by the ocean in South Dartmouth, where endless parties, holidays and happy memories were enjoyed with her family and loved ones. Togetherness and celebration of every milestone was paramount, and it brought her the most excitement and joy to throw parties for the people she loved than to be celebrated herself. She was well-known for refusing to sit still until everyone around her was taken care of, well-fed, and sent on their way with a quirky yet meaningful keepsake at the end of any gathering. Even throughout her cancer journey she could be found enjoying her favorite music being played and making art. As she began to struggle with speech and cognition in daily conversation, if you put "Chantilly Lace" on Spotify she could still remember most of the dance steps and lyrics. And even in her final weeks, when she only was able to move her left arm, she spent much of the day molding beautiful clay spheres as offerings for her loved ones. Deeply grounded in spirituality, she was a student of Amma (an Indian spiritual leader) and firmly believed that the secret to a well-lived life was uncovered through the expression of unconditional love and faith. There were visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center from 1:00 - 3:00 pm on Friday March 11th, followed by an intimate burial gathering at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Please join us for a celebration of life on Sunday, March 27th, in honor of her 60th birthday, at First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Rd., Concord, MA at 2 pm. She has asked for those interested in making a donation in her name to consider one-time or recurring gifts to Amma's fund for humanitarian activities . Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.