Reta J. Stella

Reta J. Stella Reta Jane Stella, age 95, passed away at Pioneer Nursing Home on January 14, 2023, with her loving daughter, Tina, at her bedside. Reta was born on September 21, 1927, to Otto and Lena (Lauhoff) Straub at home in Brunswick, Missouri, and was the sixth of eleven children. Her childhood years were spent on the farm in Indian Grove, Missouri, where she and her family worked hard farming. She carried water on horseback to the workers in the fields. She also worked the fields with the horse and plow. She and her siblings had many chores at home. When she was 14, the family moved to San Fernando, California, where her parents worked at Lockheed Martin making aircraft during WWII. During high school Reta first worked at a drug store and then an upholstery shop to contribute to the family income. Reta graduated high school at San Fernando High and was an athlete lettering in field hockey. Reta became reacquainted with Louis Stella from Marceline who was serving in the army and stationed in San Luis Obispo, CA. On July 22, 1947, Reta married Louis Angelo Stella at St. Bonaventure Church in Marceline. They celebrated 53 years of marriage. Louie preceded Reta in death on January 24, 2001. After the war, Louis and Reta settled in Marceline to raise their family. Reta knew only hard work and while raising six children, she sewed for her family as well as others and learned to upholster furniture. Reta's upholstery business grew and provided a good additional income for the family. Reta retired from upholstering at the young age of 80. Reta was a fabulous cook and could somehow find a way to make something out of nothing. She fed many a family member at their home and was widely admired for her fried chicken and her many pies. She used to comment that it was just as easy to make six pies as to make one. Reta and Louie moved to 1720 North Kansas Ave in the early 1950's. They had multiple businesses on this property including Louie's Market, gas pumps and a liquor store. They opened the first A&W Drive-In in the area in 1955. The only items sold in the early years of the drive-in were ice cream, root beer and hot dogs. The business and menu constantly evolved. A new building with a dining room and yet another expanded menu was opened in 1969. Louie and Reta worked the business themselves from morning to night with the help of their six children. They employed many Marceline High School students over the years. It was common practice for many years to have 2 or 3 businesses at one time to make sure the bills were paid. Reta always kept a list of people that wanted furniture upholstered. People often would wait six months to a year because she was skilled and her prices were fair. She was also known for being able to fix or patch anything when it came to a dress, hem, or seam. She passed that skill to her daughter Sandy. They were the Marceline sewing duo. There were many times Mom and Sandy would have their heads together trying to figure out how they were going to fix a prom dress or wedding dress that needed altering. Reta was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Bonaventure Church. She truly believed God would always take care of her. She felt that as hard as her life had been, it was the best life, and that she couldn't have been more blessed. Reta found great joy in almost every situation. Her greatest joy was loving, laughing, and playing with children. The noise of her own children or her grandchildren brought her great happiness! She was a competitive Dominos player with the grandchildren and could be found playing any one of a number of card games. She had a quick wit and loved to tease and her grandchildren loved to tease her. After Louie passed away, Reta began to travel to Florida every winter. She became a snowbird flying to Tampa and spending winters with her daughter, Tina, and her family. She loved her long visit with the Becker family and she loved the warm weather. She especially enjoyed the visits to Palm Island. Reta started looking forward to that yearly trip at the first frost each Fall. Reta made Pioneer Skilled Nursing her home three years ago and thrived under their loving care and encouragement and friendships with the staff there. The family of Reta is greatly appreciative to all the staff at Pioneer Skilled Nursing for their kindnesses. Reta is survived by her beloved children, daughter Patricia Stella, Conyers, GA, son Ron Stella (Connie) Lawrenceburg, KY, son in law Richard Hoskins, Marceline, son James Stella (Mary Kussman), Marceline, daughter Tina Becker (Glenn), Odessa, FL. She is preceded in death by daughter Brenda Uhler, son in law Bob Uhler, and daughter Sandra Hoskins. Reta is survived by siblings Mary Stewart Reed, Pico Rivera, CA, Cyril Straub (Marie), Forest Ranch, CA, and Teresa Tobin (Jack), Sylmar, CA, and sister in law Doris Dennis, Brookfield, MO. Predeceased siblings are Ernestine (Jake) Edemann, Yucca Valley, CA, Agnella (Everett) Hansen, Clear Lake, CA, Wilma (John) Steinbeck, Yucca Valley, CA, Mildred Boswell (CB), San Fernando, CA, as well as two infant twin sisters and an infant brother. She is survived by 16 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Delaney Funeral Home, Marceline Friday, January 20th, from 5-8 PM with a Rosary at 7 PM. Mass of Christian burial will be at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Marceline on Saturday, January 21st at 11 AM with burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Marceline. Memorials may be made to the Fr. McCartan Memorial School Foundation or St. Bonaventure Church and may be mailed to 1720 N. Missouri Ave., Marceline, MO 64658.