Adele Stern
November 16, 1928 - April 17, 2022
San Luis Obispo, California - Adele Stern, born in Chicago in November 1928 –– died peacefully surrounded by family in San Luis Obispo in April 2022.
"During that dash," she asked us to write, "she married Robert Stern in Chicago and they had three children: Laura, Susan and Mike. They came to San Luis Obispo in 1971."
"I hate long obituaries, listing all the activities and memberships," she wrote. "So, I thought you could say I wrote this one, to get you kids off the hook."
Adele wrote that she felt she was born lucky, so she decided to devote her life to giving back as a "professional volunteer."
She started at age 13 during World War II, rolling bandages for the American Red Cross and later volunteered in hospitals in three cities, worked in every school her children attended, lead a pack of Cub Scouts and two troops of Girl Scouts and served on advisory boards for cities, counties and nonprofits.
For more than 50 years she worked with the League of Women Voters and held leadership positions at both the local and state levels.
You can still watch Adele quizzing politicians and unraveling bureaucracy on YouTube videos of SLO Democracy, the League public affairs program she hosted for 10 years on San Luis Obispo public access television. Just go to youtube.com and put SLO LWV into the search bar.
Above all, Adele excelled at loving and guiding her husband and children; her grandchildren, John, Nick, Katie and Nora; her great-grandchildren, Madeline, Vivian, Brooke, Clay, Luke and Peter, and assorted sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, extended family and friends.
"Oh, I tried," she wrote, "tried is the key word here, because being a Scorpio, I did Scorpio things. But I tried to be a good daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend."
And she succeeded. Many people loved her and felt she had graced their lives. "She taught us all how to love," said one granddaughter.
A memorial service for Adele will be held at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park at 2 pm on May 16. If you will be attending, please let us know at [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, please go out and try to make someone smile, or, as Adele might say: "Buy some ice cream for you and your family and think about me while enjoying it!"
As her family, refusing to give her the last word, we say: "Rest in peace beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We love you. You did a great job."

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by & from Apr. 27 to Apr. 30, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Adele Stern

4 Entries

Maryann Stensrude

May 20, 2022

What a loss. Adele was a treasure, and I feel honored that I got to know her while she lived at the Villages of SLO, where I was a Front Desk Receptionist for 14 years until I finally retired in December of 2019. I will never forget Adele! She was down-to-Earth and had a great sense of humor. One day, she called the Front Desk and said to me, "Can you come and unhook my bra?" I said, "WHAT?" We get all kinds of requests from our residents, but this was a new one! She laughed and decided to spare me the suspense, and explained that her had fallen out of her laundry basket and did get a hook caught in the carpet! That, I could do. So, I went to Adele's apartment and unhooked her bra! That became an inside joke between us (I'm sure there are more, but not enough room here). I will always miss Adele, but I will never forget her. Rest in peace, Adele and many condolences to her family who she loved very much.

Jennifer Buksa

May 20, 2022

I had the privilege of working for Adele. I met her at Curves where we were both making "the rounds". She encouraged me in my complaint against my then employer for harassment in the workplace..I thought I was crazy for complaining but she convinced me that I was not. I won. In her employ, she always treated me with respect and dignity. Thank you, Adele

Vicki Dixon

May 16, 2022

I am very sorry she is gone. She was hysterically funny and had so many crazy but true stories to share. I particularly love the parachute story. I will miss her very much.

JoAnne Fiscalini

April 28, 2022

Have many fond memories of our "next door" neighbors on Orcutt Road. My children loved going over to visit. Adele always had entertaining stories to tell. When Adele and Bob would go out of town. Adele would "pay" all three of my children to pick up the mail, usually a silver dollar each or a two dollar bill each, even thou it only took one to get the mail out of the box. I even convinced Adele to work on my election board which we did for years. I consider Adele a true friend and always willing to help a person in need.

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