It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful mother, Stella Montesano on July 17, 2013. Surrounded by her family Mom died at the Ponderosa Lodge after a year-long battle with cancer.

Mom's memory will live on in the hearts of her five children, Carol Tennessy, Penny (David) Marr, Angela (Don) MacPherson, Henry (Liselotte) and David (Nicole); grandchildren Tim, Jordan, Steve, Alex, Markus and Anna-Marie; four great-grandchildren; brothers Peter and Donnie and many nieces and nephews.

Stella was predeceased by her husband Henry in 2006. She was also predeceased by her parents Peter and Ksenia Toporowski, brothers Stan and John and sisters Helen, Mary and Natalie.

Mom was born in Krakow, Poland on September 20, 1926 and moved to Canada with her family shortly thereafter. They settled in Paddockwood, Saskatchewan where Mom spent her early years. The Toporowski family relocated to Prince Rupert, B.C. when Mom was 18 and it was there that she met and married the love of her life, Henry Montesano and where her five children were born and raised. Mom and Dad moved to Kamloops in 1992 to be close to their grandchildren.

Stella's greatest loves were family, friends, food, gardening and occasional trips to the casino. Mom embraced her role as a grandmother and loved any opportunity to attend her grandsons' school and sports events. She loved her home and made it a welcoming place for those she loved. Mom appreciated her wonderful neighbours on Tantalus Court as well as her close circle of women friends.

The family would like to thank Drs. DuPreez and Gabriel for their support and compassionate care. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the wonderful staff at Ponderosa Lodge who treated Mom with such dignity, kindness and respect until her death. Thanks also to the wonderful staff at Royal Inland Hospital who tended to Mom during brief stays over the past few years. Mom always left the hospital with feelings of admiration and gratitude for the excellent care provided by the health care professionals she encountered.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 27th, 2013 at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Father Andrew L'Heureux Celebrant. A Celebration of Stella's life will follow in the Vista Room at the Coast Kamloops Hotel on Rogers Way.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in Stella's memory.

Arrangements entrusted to Schoenings Funeral Service.