Stella was born under a star in 1927, delivered by her father on the floor of their log house in Clear Hills, Alberta — the seventh of fourteen children. Last Sunday, she passed from this world peacefully at sunrise, again at home surrounded by family. In those marvelous years in between, Stella was a mother, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother, a flirt, a friend, an ally, and a ferocious spirit. She left Alberta arm-and-arm with her husband Dean, and they raised five children across Vancouver Island and Northern BC. Between running cafes, fishing lodges and the Parksville beach concession, Stella was proud to have traveled the world, from Australia to Lesotho, Germany to Vanuatu. That was, until her grandchildren came along. Stella settled in Sidney, BC with her eldest son Tom, whom she cared for through his final days. It was soon clear that ‘grandmother’ wouldn’t cut it — we needed a new word for this extraordinary woman. Stella chose ‘Baba,’ in honour of the mother of her cherished son-in-law, Patrick Slobodian. And she was Baba to many, drawn by her loyalty, faith, wit, and always endless love. In her 70s, while volunteering at Maxwell International Baha’i School, Stella became a painter, and art poured out of her. It was, like her, beautiful. Stella lived a singular life and wore it lightly, feeling things deeply but always ready with a smile and a wisecrack of welcome.
Stella passed to the next world as she lived in this one, surrounded by her loving children, Kit, Sandy (Patrick), Bob (Lynn) and Barb, before reuniting with Dean and Tom. She will be missed, terribly, by her eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Indeed, she will be missed by anyone lucky enough to know her.
Service will take place at 11 am on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson & Vancouver Streets. Please join us by dressing colourfully for this event, in honour of Stella/Baba/Mom’s vibrant spirit.
“…That she may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries” (‘Abdu’l-Baha).
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
27 Responses
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Baba was a very unique person. I only had the pleasure of seeing her a couple of times but did get quite a few laughs in her company. May she watch over all her family and “keep you all in line.” haha. Rest in peace Baba.
Love to you all. My auntie Stella. I have memories as a young girl in Paddle Prairie of auntie Stella arriving – I admired this tall long legged beautiful woman with wild reddish hair. She walked in with love and compassion and energy that was like a storm. For me as a young girl I saw someone living their life reaching out and taking hold of her space. When I was eighteen I was fortunate enough to go the Fishing Lodge on the Great Bear Lake and help auntie Stella with the cooking. I loved that experience auntie Stella made me proud by always giving me compliments and encouragement to keep moving forwarding. Auntie Stella loved her little bro, my dad Clarence, I loved seeing my dad surrounding by his sisters. I am doing my best auntie Stella to walk a good path — what helps me be there is always reaching back to the mountain of strength the Houle women gave us. I always remember your kindness towards me.
with Love your niece Lauralyn
Please accept our sincere sympathy! God bless her soul.
You are in our prayers.
We often exchanged puzzled glances, Stella and I, wondering at the bizarre and the incoherence. We didn’t need to say much, but we knew that what was spoken as truth was not and that the banal surface covered a cancer underneath. My memories are strong of our non-words and I trust that secrets will be kept. Go in peace, my friend. Warmest condolences to the family and friends.
I wish I could have come to say goodbye in person. My very warmest wishes to all of her family. Although it has been over fourty years since I have seen her I have talked to her several times over the last couple of years. I believe that she will be missed as she was loved.
I didn’t know Stella all that well, I wish I did. The small memories I have with her are funny and bright. She let me walk the amazing Poodle Watsy and she gave me delicious popcorn, we laughed at the fact that the dog jumped on me and followed me. After only spending a short amount of time with her, I knew she was like another grandmother. I am sad to say that I cannot attend the ceremony, I will say prayers and keep her in my heart. Even though I am not confident in my artistic skills, I will practise more often, and add more colour to my drawings, to my life, and the lives of others, like she did.
Kit & Family:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. The world lost a shining star, but heaven gained an angel and your family will have an amazing guardian angel looking over them.
With our deepest sympathies and condolences,
Barbera & Christopher Pearson
Stella was an AMAZING woman & will be missed far more than, I think, she would have ever imagined. She made me smile and laugh so much!! Loved you! From a new baba <3
Stella was an AMAZING woman I will be missed far more than, I think, she would have ever imagined. She made me smile and laugh so much!! Loved you! From a new baba <3
It has been many years since I was last in Stella’s presence, but even now I can still feel the heat and glow of her spirit. I found her to be a stupendous and audacious woman and secretly wished I could have had a mother like her in my life. She was love and beauty and spirit incarnate. I was more of a lurker in the background and wish I had asserted myself into her life to have had more of her wisdom, presence, and thoughts. She was, indeed, stunningly beautiful and such a force to behold. Her family must feel the void but, to have had Stella in their lives is a bounty few have and which they will have in their hearts, forever.