Maria Luisa Benaglia Stark

Luisa was raised in Palo Alto, CA on Campus Drive across from Stanford University, where her Father was the department head of the Romance Languages. She lived there with her Father, Roberto Benaglia Sangiorgi, Mother, Tyra Gallagher, brother, Paul and sister, Giulietta.

Throughout her youth, Luisa would travel back and forth to Europe, specifically Rome, Italy to visit her Father’s family. These frequent travels led Luisa to become an airline stewardess for American Airlines. While working for American in Dallas, Texas, she met her husband, John King Stark, who was working for Braniff Airlines. John and Luisa had 3 children, John David, Erin and Julie and resided in San Antonio, TX for 46 years.

To know Luisa was to love her, she could make anyone laugh with her infectious smile, signature laugh and uncanny sense of humor. Luisa was an avid lover of classical music and Italian opera. She loved to sing with her Father, who was a talented pianist and tenor, and her sister, Giulietta. She had season tickets to the San Antonio Symphony and always took her children with her to the symphony. She loved to play classical music, cook homemade Italian food and entertain family and friends at her house. She was a devoted Roman Catholic woman with an enormous faith in God. She taught all of her children the same faith and would show this love for God everyday in her selfless actions to people around her. Luisa attended daily mass at St Brigid’s Catholic Church in San Antonio and made many close friends through the church’s choir and prayer groups.

Luisa dedicated her life to her faith and her family. She was a pillar of strength that will continue to be a guiding post for her family many years to come. She is survived by her children: John David Stark, Erin Elizabeth Stark-Medina and Julie Mullin; her grandchildren: Forbes Brown, Giulietta Maria Luisa Brown, John Javier Stark and Landon Mullin; her nieces and nephews: Lawrence Wood, Lewis Wood, “Maria” Luisa Henry, James Wood, Shawn Henry, Jamie Henry, Rocky Wood and Sarah Wood.

Celebration of Life Mass will be at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4465 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327, on April 9, 2022 in St. Mary’s Chapel at 10:30 am. EST. Livestream is available at www.hsccatl.com/livechapel. Burial to follow in the Amelia Mary Memorial Garden at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Luisa’s favorite charity the “Little Sisters of the Poor.”