Stella Gajda nee Dusza, age 96, life long resident of Chicago, Illinois, earned her final angel wings on February 6, 2018. She loved and trusted in her Lord and is now celebrating in His presence with family & friends.

Stella was born on March 6, 1921 the fourth of five siblings born to the late Louis & Pauline (Smalec) Dusza. She married her "one & only" Joseph Gajda on February 23, 1946 in Chicago, where they raised their three children. Joe & Stella were married for 45 years and after Joseph's death in 1991, Stella sold the family home and moved into an apartment in the Presence Resurrection Retirement Community where she made many good friends including Jean, Helen, Betty, Lucy, and the late Wanda. Stella lived at RRC for 22 years and was extremely resilient and adaptive to the challenges God presented her, until a major surgery required she give up living independently. She moved "across the parking lot" to the Presence Resurrection Life Center in April of 2017 where she became the darling of many caring staff members. In her final days, she was also attend to by the compassionate staff of Rainbow Hospice.

Stella was preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph, daughter Camille (the late Norbert) Dudek in 2007, and her siblings Genevieve (the late Joseph) in 2008, Anna (1928), Mitchell (the late Rose) in 1987, and Joseph (Lois) Dusza in 1993, as well as her parents.

She is survived by her son, John (Linda) Gajda, daughter Christine (Ronald) Kocol, grandchildren Norbert (Katie) Dudek, Timothy Dudek, Katherine (Pepper) Borunda, Emma (Jason) Paulline, Noah (Jessica) Gajda, Will (Steven) Huebner-Kocol, Renee (Patrick) Schott, James (Emily) Kocol, and great-grandchildren Brandon Dudek, Zach Dudek, Zoe Dudek, Colin Borunda, Coraline Borunda, Lily Paulline, Jonathan Schott, as well as many nieces and nephews and her much loved sisters-in-law Lois (the late Joseph) Dusza and Dorothy (the late Casey) Gajda.

Nothing gave Stella more joy than to be in the company of those she loved. She was an incredibly devoted caregiver to her husband, mother, parents-in-law, and daughter as well as several friends and neighbors. When faced with her own health challenges, Stella always rolled with the punches & usually landed back on her feet, as if brushing the dust from her shoulder saying: Ok, What else ya got? An angel on earth, unselfishly taking care of family & friends when there was a need, she will be remembered for her loving and caring spirit by all who knew her.

"God gave us great joys that fill us, so we can draw upon them like a well when times turn tough." (Author Jan Kirkpatrick in The Memory Weaver).

Visitation Friday, February 9, from 4 to 9 pm; funeral prayers Saturday, February 10, 10:15 am at Kolbus-John V. May Funeral Home, 6857 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago. Procession to Immaculate Conception Church for 11 am Mass of Christian Burial. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Easter Seals. Interment private. For more info please call 773-774-3232