Stella N. Rodgers

Stella N. Rodgers, 84, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025. She was born on August 27, 1940, on the family farm in Poland to her beloved parents, Karol and Urszula Nowik. Stella was a fiercely independent and determined woman who survived war and adversity as a young girl. Fleeing from Poland at the age of 5, her family made their way to Germany and eventually found safety in the rising star, Hartford, Connecticut. Gifted at keeping a home, she found comfort in curating a space filled with warmth and beauty. She had a creative soul and a meticulous eye for detail, finding joy in her hand crafts, crocheting blankets for family members and sewing textiles for her home. Her love of nature and natural green thumb shone through in her remarkable gardening skills and her ability to grow stunning house plants from nothing but a twig. Stella was a sensitive woman, who remained strong and passionate until her final days. She was a devoted mother to, Kimberly Kane, Cynthia Harris, and Ursula Szatkowski. Her legacy continues through each of her cherished grandchildren-James, Eric, Kevin, Abigail, Alexandria, and Gabrielle-and her great-grandchildren-Sawyer, Ayela, Eleanor, and Roman. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Anthony "Tony" Rodgers, along with her siblings Izydor Nowik, Helen Byczkiewicz, Bernard Nowik, Thomas Nowik, and Mary Madrak. She is survived by her brother Joseph Nowik. Stella will be remembered for her passion, vigor and the soft elegance she brought into the lives of those around her. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. Details of a Celebration of Life and Honoring Ceremony will be shared with family and friends at a future date.