STEPHANIE ‘STELLA’ STAMARSKI

Stephanie “Stella” Stamarski, of International Falls, Mn., passed away Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Wendigo Pines Memory Care in Grand Rapids, Mn. as a result of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Stephanie Pearl Michaluk was born Jan. 21, 1926 at Fort Frances, Ont. to John and Annie (Yuskow) Michaluk. She grew up and attended school in Fort Frances.
As a young woman, she completed cosmetology training and was licensed as a cosmetologist in Ontario and later in Minnesota.
Stephanie married Eugene Stamarski on April 17, 1952 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Frances.
They immigrated to the United States in 1953 and settled in International Falls. They later became naturalized citizens of the United States.
Their only child, Johanna Eileen, was born on Jan. 1, 1954.
Stephanie worked at several jobs, retiring from the Falls Care Center in 1986. She continued to live in her home at 1117 10th St. until her health failed.
Stephanie is survived by her daughter, Johanna Watne; granddaughter, Melissa (Brendan) Gilmore; and grandsons, Daniel (Paul Duckstad) Watne and Benjamin Watne, all of Grand Forks, N.D.
Also surviving are her brother, Edward Michaluk and brother-in-law, Stanley Stamarski, both of Fort Frances, Ont.; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews in the United States and Canada.
She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Eugene on June 6, 1984; infant sister, Eileen; and by Eugene’s siblings, Wanda Pitrowski, Berna Shortreed, John Stamarski, and Mary Shortreed.
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas conducted a rosary service on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in International Falls.
Visitation followed until the funeral mass at 10 a.m., with Rev. Fr. Mitch Byeck, OMI, as the celebrant.
A luncheon followed the funeral in the Fellowship Hall at St. Thomas, with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances.
Blessed be the memory of Stephanie Stamarski.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenlarsen.com