Obit: Chura, Estella Mary (1915 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Chura, Borys, Jakubowicz, Wynimko, Liedl, Stubblefield, Siverts, Vertnik, Pearson, Henrichs, Derks, Macioszek, Khatib, Meuret, Konopa

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 4/03/2013

Chura, Estella Mary (23 January 1915 - 29 March 2013)

Stella Chura, 98, of Stanley, died Friday, March 29, 2013, at Ministry Our Lady of Victory Hospital, Stanley.

Estella Mary was born January 23, 1915, during a blizzard, to the late Dominik and Maryanna (Borys) Jakubowicz in the Town of Colburn. The family lived north of Stanley on Co. Hwy. G. Stella attended Popple Hill School and attended her beloved St. Mary of Czestochowa Catholic Church in Junction. While her father worked in the saw mill away from home, she farmed, logged and drove the Model T Ford at a young age. Also during the summer months she worked in Chicago as a housekeeper. On Tuesday, June 22, 1937, Stella married her teenage sweetheart, Stanley Chura, at St. Mary of Czestochowa. They raised their family on the Chura Family Farm in the Town of Thorp.

Besides farming alongside Stanley, Stella raised chickens and sold eggs. She had two large gardens and was known for her dill pickles. There wasn’t a vegetable or fruit she didn’t can. With her green thumb there wasn’t a plant or flower she couldn’t grow. She was canning until age 95 and enjoyed the garden until moving to Miller’s in 2012. Stella also loved to bake and her homemade bread didn’t last long.

Stella and Stanley were very active members at Czestochowa. Stella was a member of the Rosary Society, (which was organized November 22, 1914), the choir and helped with the annual picnics. In 1949, looking for a social outlet, Stella, along with Wanda Wynimko, started a group of nine women playing Bunco. Though the members changed, Stella remained active, shaking her last hand of dice on March 12, 2013. Her daughter, Jan Liedl, will carry on her mom’s legacy. In 1969, Stella, was also a founding member of the Cheerful Corners homemakers and was a member until 1991. A prolific writer, she wrote the Junction News for the Stanley Republican and The Thorp Courier for many years. She also served as an election clerk for the Town of Thorp into her 90’s.

Stella’s life was guided by her faith (praying the rosary daily) and love of family. She will forever be remembered by her children, Louis (Ann), Thorp, WI, Virginia “Ginny” Stubblefield, McHenry, IL, Gerri (Eric) Siverts, Colorado Springs, Co, Ed Chura, Stanley, WI, Jan (Gary) Liedl, Chippewa Falls, WI, and Celia (Bernie) Vertnik, Lakeville, MN.

Grandma to: Louis Chura, Jr., Catherine (Jeff) Pearson, Valerie (Rick) Henrichs, Adam (Beth) Liedl, Derek Liedl, Nathaniel (Johanna) Stubblefield, and Jeremy Stubblefield.

Busia to: Elizabeth, Nick, Kacia, Ashlee, Isaiah, Sophia, Stella, Amelia, Xavier, Gabriel, and Allie. Special Grandma and Busia to: Bob, Cindy, Jeff, Ivory, Anna, Natalie, Eden, Shawn, Skyler, Connor, Dirk, Effie, Diana, Mike, Alex, Jonathan, Cami, and Jace. Godmother to: Dorothy Derks and Joe Wynimko. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Stella was preceded in death by her beloved Stanley in 1985; parents; sisters: Julianna Jakubowicz, and Bertha Macioszek; brother, Joe Jakubowicz; and son-in-law, Tom Stubblefield in 2010.

The family would like to thank Dr. Khatib of the Eau Claire heart Institute for giving us Mom the last eight years, Miller alternative of Thorp for their care this last year, and Ministry Our Lady of Victory for their outstanding care of not just Mom, but the entire family these last couple weeks.

A funeral mass was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at St. Mary’s of Czestochowa Catholic Church, rural Stanley. Father Don Meuret and Father Brian Konopa co-celebrated. Burial followed in the parish cemetery. Visitation was on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. rosary at the Plombon Funeral Home, Stanley. Visitation continued on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s of Czestochowa - c/o Elaine Venet, W89913 Co. R. X Thorp, WI 54771.