Stella Marie Holmes Winn

Stella Marie Holmes Winn December 25, 1919 - October 14, 2006 Born Dec. 25, 1919 and raised in Oakland, CA, Stella Marie Holmes was awarded an RN degree from Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing in 1943. She then served as an army nurse in Hawaii and Guam for the remainder of WWII. She married Howard Jay Winn in 1950 and moved to the Muir Woods Park community on Mt. Tamalpais, where they lived for the rest of Howard's life. Stella worked in nursing and medical records in San Francisco and Marin County in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. A longtime member of the Muir Woods Park Community Association, she was also an active volunteer in Planned Parenthood in Marin City and the Redwoods Retirement Home in Mill Valley. In early 2004, Stella moved to the Veterans Retirement Home in Yountville, where she became a well-loved member of that community until pneumonia took her on October 14, 2006. Stella was a people-person who took joy in caring for others throughout her life. She is remembered by friends, family and caregivers for her kindness, good humor, resourcefulness and courage as she faced repeated bouts of cancer and gradual blindness. Predeceased by her brother Charles Holmes in 1997 and her husband Howard Winn in 2002, she is survived by stepdaughter, Judy Winn-Bell of San Francisco; sisters-in-law, Eileen Holmes of Castro Valley and Georgina Winn Heinkel of Nevada City, CA; cousins, Terry Holmes of San Carlos, Bill Engvick of Oakland, Glenna Zolling of Castro Valley, Sue Hughs of Dutch Flat, and Marjorie Royce of Portola Valley, as well as many nieces, nephews and their children. A memorial gathering to celebrate Stella's life will be held at the Muir Woods Park Community Center, 40 Ridge Ave., Mill Valley, on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1 PM. All who knew her are invited to come with Stella-stories and food or drink to share. She will be laid to rest at the Yountville Veterans Cemetery after a military service on Thurs., Nov. 9 at 10 AM at the Veterans Home Memorial Chapel in Yountville. Donations in her memory can be made to: The VIST Program (Visual Impairment Service Team) San Francisco VA, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, or St. Anthony's Dining Room, 121 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102.