| Date of Birth | June 10, 1931 |
| Passed Away | August 14, 2010 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | August 18, 2010 |
| Service Time | 11:00 AM |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church |
STELLA A. (SPIWAK) DeGAETANO
HORNELL-Stella A. (Spiwak) DeGaetano, 79, passed away Saturday morning (Aug. 14, 2010) at her home at 206 Greeley Ave.
Born in Hornell on June 10, 1931, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna Spiwak. On May 30, 1953, she was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to Vincent “Doty” DeGaetano, who survives.
A native and life long resident of Hornell, Stella was a graduate of St. Ann’s School and Hornell High School, class of 1949.
She had been employed by the former Koskie Music Store and the Cameo Shop in Hornell and also baked wedding cakes for about 10 years at her home. Since 1976 she has been in partnership in business with her husband operating DeGaetano Family Shoe Store & Repair on Main Street in Hornell.
Stella was a long time member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where she served as principal of the CCD Religious Education program for several years. She was also a member of the AZB Sorority.
Her family includes her loving and devoted husband of 57 years, Doty; her daughter, Debra (John) Jaun of Rochester; her son, Michael (Sherry) DeGaetano of Hornell; her five grandchildren, Christopher and Sara Jaun, Zachary, Colby and Nikolas DeGaetano; her sister, Helen (Paul) Spencer of Almond; her brother, Walter Spiwak of St. Augustine, Fla.; also her many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by several siblings, including her brother, John Spiwak of Columbus Ohio.
To honor her wishes there will be no calling hours. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either St. Ann’s School Memorial Fund, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell or to the Hornell High School Alumni Assoc. PO Box 135, Hornell, NY 14843.
Arrangements are with the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell.
It is our deepest sorrow to learn Stella’s passing. She had been a wonderful lady, devoted wife, caring mother and member of a wonderful family. May the Lord embrace her and provide tranquility, peace and solace forever. In the name of Christ we are all mourning and praying for her soul and for Doty’s welfare, health and strength to memorialize her forever. God Bless!
Mark and I would like to send our sincerest condolences in the loss of Stella. I remember when I first met her thinking WOW! what a pretty lady she is. Over the years I enjoyed going into the store and her catching me up on how Deb and her family were doing. She was so proud of her family. Mark and I will miss her friendly greetings. We are really sorry for your loss.
Dear Vincent “Doty” De Gaetano,
We were sad to read of Stella’s passing. We, like many others, remember her fondly as gracious, kind, and helpful.
With sincere condolences and all good wishes
My Aunt Stella was a beautiful woman. She welcomed anyone in her home and loved her family dearly. She was a kind soul who always had a positive outlook on life when life was not always so good to her. The last time I saw her she was sitting next to my Uncle Dody in the Shoe Store on a rainy Saturday afternoon in March. She looked up and said, “Hello Michael and Janie.” I had not seen,my aunt for a few years and she knew us right when we walked in the front door of the Shoe Store, as she did for anyone who ever entered DeGaetano’s Shoe Store.
She was a loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Aunt, and friend.
I am sorry that I was not able to attent her service but know all of her brother Walter’s children loved her dearly. When we received the call from my him, he was so caught up with emotion, her had to hang up the phone.
Aunt Stela will be missed by anyone who ever knew her. God rest and bless her soul!
Much love to all,
Michael Spiwak
Long Beach, California
May the bless you and keep you in the palm of His hands.
I was saddened to hear of Aunt Stella’s passing when Dad (her brother Walter) told me Wednesday night. Had we known earlier, surely, Michael and I would have attended her service to personally express our condolences and honor her as our loving aunt. When I think of Aunt Stella, several words come to mind: gentle, compassionate, generous, vivacious and loving. Regardless of how infrequently she saw our family, she always embraced us with hugs and her loving heart. She was a true lady in every sense of the word with a quick wit, a quick smile and her own personal style. Her strength, courage and perseverence were an inspiration to all who knew her. I am certain she is at peace in heaven as one of God’s angels. To Uncle Doty, Debbie and Michael let me say that love is the most powerful emotion so much more so that grief. Love is eternal. May the love you shared bring you comfort and sustain you.
Dear Uncle Doty, Michael and Debra I was saddened when i learn about Aunt Stella Passing. If i had known i would of attended the Mass for her on Wednesday. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this trying time. She will be missed by many. Keep her in your hearts always and remember all the good times. She will live on in all of us especially her Beloved Family. God bless you all. Barbara Spiwak Proper, Waterloo ny
Dear family members,
I am truly saddened by the news of Aunt Stella’s death. She was an extraodinary person who gave her love and compassion freely. To bestow the gift of love on so many people is angelic and worthy of heavenly peace. If we believe, as Christians do, Aunt Stella surely will have achieved the greatest gift of all, eternal rest and peace. May my words of comfort reassure you that Aunt Stella is in the comfort of God’s hand. May the peace of the lord always be with you.
We read of Stella’s passing and wanted you to know we’re so sorry for your loss of her on this earth.
She was a special lady and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
May God draw you all close to Himself and to one another and pour out His love, peace and comfort in the days ahead.
In His Love,
Carl and Jan Leathersich