Stella Connor
South Deerfield, MA – Stella Connor, 110, went home to be with the
Lord on September 21, 2025. She was born on June 19, 1915, to Peter
and Stasia (Banas) Korpiewski who immigrated to the U.S. from Poland
as teenagers and later met and married in Massachusetts. She spent her
childhood and attended school in Whately until the 8th grade. She had
dreamed of becoming a nurse, but her dream was never realized as her
help was needed by caring for siblings and working with her parents on
the farm. She earned extra money seasonally in the “tobacco shops”
that were so common at that time.
She married her first husband, Steve Zentara, in 1935. They had three
children. She had a quiet inner strength and great physical stamina
which enabled her to work by her husband’s side in the field during
the day as they raised cucumbers, potatoes, onions and tobacco. She
parked her children’s baby carriages in the shade of a tobacco barn
while she worked. Her evenings were spent caring for her children with
great love and devotion, doing whatever cooking, baking, canning,
housekeeping and sewing was needed for that day. In the early years of
her marriage, she did domestic work during the winter months while her
husband travelled to Florida to do farm work. During that difficult
time and throughout her life, her faith in God was her greatest source
of strength.
In 1977 she married her second husband, Russell Connor. They enjoyed
eight years together. After her husband’s passing, she embarked on
another phase of her life, becoming very involved with her community
and home parish, Holy Family, in So. Deerfield. She sang in the choir,
served as a lector, a eucharistic minister and was a member of the St.
Anne’s Sodality. She established many close friendships and was known
for reaching out to help members of the community who were not able to
drive. Her kindness, optimism and sense of gratitude inspired many.
She loved going on road trips with her friend Fran hunting for
antiques and was an accomplished seamstress always ready to create a
garment or do alterations for family and friends. She also tried her
hand at many different crafts. She loved animals and was devoted to
her dogs Penny and Leah and cats Abigail and Kaylee. Stella drove her
own car until the age of 103 and lived independently at home until the
age of 109.
At age 102, she as awarded the “Golden Cane” for being the oldest
resident of the Town of Deerfield. The award was re-commemorated on
the event of her 110th birthday. She had also been a participant in
Boston University’s Centenarian Study.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Sophie and
brother-in-law John, brothers Edwin, Edmund and Joseph, her former
husband Steve and her second husband Russ. She was also predeceased by
her niece Joan Lambert, nephew John Rusin and many close friends.
She leaves behind her daughter Marie Welch and son-in-law Steve, her
sons Daniel Zentara and Stephen Zentara and daughter-in-law Anne. She
also leaves behind granddaughters Joyce (Scott), Mary and great
granddaughters Iris, Stephanie (John) and great granddaughter Raelynn,
step granddaughters Maureen and Megan, stepson Russ Connor (Cindy)
stepdaughters Claire Berthiume (Charlie), stepdaughter Marian Connor
and step-great granddaughter Mae along with nieces Joan Sirard, Paula
Sirard-James, Darlene Korpiewski, Veronica Gilmore and nephews David,
Joseph, and Richard Korpiewski.
Special thanks to grand nephew Dean Lambert and his wife Monica,
Deacon Rod Patton and very dear friends Sharon Kieras, Chuck Phinney,
Pam Barber, and Barbara Demerski, all of whom provided love with
special support and care, in her later years and former neighbor
Kirsten Killian and daughter Zaria who travelled from Ireland to
celebrate her 110th birthday.
Memorial contributions can be sent to TJ O’Connor Animal adoption
center 627 Cottage St. Springfield, MA 01104 or to Valley Neighbors PO
Box 281 Whately, MA 01093.
A Liturgy of Christian burial will be held Friday October 3, 2025, at
11AM at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church 29 Sugarloaf St. South
Deerfield. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home,
for condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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