D C Stanfa

1959 - 2021

DC Stanfa

"So shines a good deed in a weary world."

While DC Stanfa chose to never view the world as weary, she did inexplicably brighten it for 61 years by living a life of kindness, positive energy, and unique humor.

DC passed on January 7, 2021. Born on Nov. 14, 1959 in Toledo, Ohio, DC (Denise) was the middle daughter of Dennis and Gloria Stanfa. She graduated from St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Grade School, E.L. Bowsher High School, and The University of Toledo, all of which are probably still recovering from the crazy, unforgettable mark her spirited nature left there.

After leaving Toledo, she lived in Dallas, Richmond, and Cincinnati, before settling in Hudson, Florida.

In her long and successful career in the corrugated container business, DC's uncanny charm allowed her to excel at selling empty cardboard boxes by the millions. This ability comes as no surprise to those who knew her, as it mirrored her ability to make lifelong friends within minutes of meeting complete strangers.

DC decided to leave the rat race of corporate America in 2018. Following her heart, she wisely retired to spend what unknowingly would be the last 2 ½ years of her life living her dream with her husband Tom at their canal-side home in Hudson, Florida. There, she spent her time watching the dolphins from their dock, writing, sipping Pinot Grigio, and making hundreds of new friends through her ubiquitous online presence.

In 2006, she published her first book, "The Art of Table Dancing: Escapades of an Irreverent Woman." She also wrote and edited the humor anthology, "Fifty Shades of Funny: Hook-ups, Break-ups, and Crack-ups" in 2012 and contributed stories to several other writing collections. She had recently finished two new books that would have, in time, surely given great joy to her readers.

In addition to her humor and writing, her legacies include her always generous nature, including mentoring other writers, supporting young women through the Boys & Girls Club of America, and serving on a suicide hotline.

DC loved Elvis, stone crab, wine, reading and writing, her girlfriend trips and annual vacations with Tom to St. Maarten, fabulous hats, Doris Day movies, the beach, and her friends and family, not necessarily in that order, because orderliness was never important to DC.

Anyone who knew her realized DC was one-of-a-kind. As her nephew Jorden said, "DC didn't just march to the beat of her own drum. She said 'the hell with percussion' and played something else entirely, and usually played it better."

DC is survived by the pride of her life, her daughter, Cori Hedrick; her beloved husband, Tom Schonecker; her mother, Gloria (Stoll) Stanfa; sisters, Lori (Mike Schroeder) and Sherry Stanfa-Stanley; and her nephews, Jorden and Kyle Stanley and Cole Schroeder. She was greeted upon her arrival at her next adventure by her father, Denny, and her grandparents.

Due to her thoughtfulness for others, DC would not want any organized public celebration of her life at this time. A fabulous, blow-out party in her honor will be scheduled at a safer time, hopefully this summer.

Contributions in her memory may be made to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

While DC would appreciate your grief and your concern, what she would most want is for you to make the most of your own life, to do what you love, and to be kind to one another.