Stephanie Macalka Kaufmann

Born on February 25, 1972 in Lexington, SC, Stephanie grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1994 and moved to Washington, DC to work on Capitol Hill. After a short internship with Senator Strom Thurmond, Stephanie began work for (then) Rep. Lindsey Graham. She began as a staff assistant and became a legislative assistant. It was while working for Rep. Graham that Stephanie met her husband, Karl, who was working for a different Member of Congress. It was true love. Their marriage was one that people can only dream about.

Stephanie’s vocation was to be a mother and a wife. She left Capitol Hill upon the birth of her first child to begin raising her family. She was ultimately blessed with four children—Lauren, Karl, Will, and Kate. Stephanie’s life revolved around her children, and she would not have had it any other way. She was proud to be their mother. There could be no more fulfilling role for Stephanie.

Stephanie’s Catholic faith was exceptionally important to her. She was a parishioner at St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC. She loved everything about St. Ann—the liturgy, the clergy, the church itself, and the community. Stephanie spent significant time at St. Ann, volunteering in many ways for the church and the elementary school. St. Ann was truly Stephanie’s spiritual home.

When Stephanie had free time, she enjoyed cooking and baking. She was an outstanding cook. Stephanie also loved tending her many beautiful roses and her Mary Garden.

Stephanie is survived by her husband (Karl); her four children (Lauren, Karl, Will, and Kate); her parents (Mike and Joan Macalka); her three siblings (Ashley Niles, Rusty Macalka, and Julia Leone); several “in laws,”; and several aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A prayer service will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 15 at McEwen Funeral Home in Pineville, NC. The prayer service will be followed by visitation until 8:00 pm. Stephanie’s funeral Mass will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 16, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC. A reception will follow the Mass. Burial will be at Forest Lawn East Cemetery and will be private.

In lieu of flowers, Stephanie requested that donations be made to the Daughters of the Virgin Mother (Daughters of the Virgin Mother). In the alternative, Stephanie was also a strong supporter of Miravia (Home - MiraVia).