Stella F. Villegas
July 21, 1928 – August 23, 2021
Stella F. Villegas, 93, joined her husband, Santos on August 23, 2021. Stella was born in Alamosa, Colorado, on July 21, 1928, to Urban and Matilda Garcia.
Stella met Santos at a dance when she was 15 – they married in 1945 in Yakima, Washington. They later moved to Warden, Washington, where they lived for 55 years, raising 7 children, until moving to Pasco, Washington, in 2010 to live with their daughter and her family. They were together for 76 years until Santos’ passing on April 15, 2021.
Stella was a housewife for years, worked on the farm with Santos, but also worked outside of the house for a short while. She enjoyed crocheting, decorating her home, working on her flowers and cooking. Friends tell us what they mostly remember about mom was her cooking. Mom always had something to eat for everyone.
Our parents are survived by 5 of their 7 children – Cecilia (Sweetie) LeDoux, Sulphur, Louisiana; Theresa (Terri) Thomsen (Porky), Richland, Washington; Christina (Tina) Baynes (Mike) Sisters, Oregon; Peter Villegas (Debi) Warden, Washington; and Inacia (Nacha) Fleming (Mike) Pasco, Washington, 13 Grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
They are preceded in death by their sons, Alfonso Villegas and Christopher Villegas; their grandson, Larry Stephenson and their son-in-law, Ray LeDoux.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers who took care of our parents for these many years, singing with them the Ay, ay, ay, ay, song, Cielito Lindo, and those who came by or called with encouraging words. A special thank you to Mark Stephenson, who took his grandparents out to eat and for walks by the Columbia River when they first moved to Pasco. This past year, Mark stayed with them on weekends for hours.
We were blessed to have our parents together with us for all these years.
Due to health concerns, our family has decided to have services for immediate family only at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden, Washington. We invite you to sign the online guest book at www.lifetributescenter.com.
