Stella "Star" Celia Dziadosz

Our Star was born May 26, 1943, in Highland Park to Pete and Stella Stumpo. She was the granddaughter of Cosenza, Italy, immigrants, the late Tom Stumpo and Rosemary Stumpo. The Stumpo family had always been a tight-knit Italian family, most of them living within a few blocks of one another in Dearborn. Star was the third child born into the family. Her siblings were Pete, Rosemary, and Joe.

Star attended Sacred Heart Parish where she made her first communion. She graduated Dearborn High School in 1961. Her Dad, Pete Stumpo, was well known in the Dearborn community for training famous boxer, Joe Gray. Star always had a generous lead foot when driving her Pontiac LeMans car, and she’d often tell the story of getting pulled over for speeding and pleading with the officer, “please don’t tell my dad”. She achieved two uncanny knacks throughout the years: to make everyone she met feel special and to get out of any speeding ticket!

Star always had a heart of gold, and nothing was more important than family to her. She loved gathering with her mom, dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins. Christmas Eve was the most important day of the entire year as everyone gathered for the “Festival of the Seven Fishes” family tradition. The event dates from southern Italy’s Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on Christmas Eve. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish. So, the Stumpo clan would prepare fish soup, fry calamari, eel, red snapper, hake, and baccala fritto, and finally bake the finishing Tiella (fish casserole). The meal wasn’t complete though without Italian candy and a snapper toy! Funny thing is … although she loved this tradition and did partake of the fish, Star really wasn’t a fan of the fish!

Upon high school graduation, she attained her cosmetology license and later was employed for McIntosh Automotive specializing in Finance. This is where Star met the love of her life, Larry Dziadosz. They were married on April 12, 1985 and shortly thereafter built a home in Milford. That Milford home saw the raising of four beautiful children: Chris, Carole, Frank and Jim as well as several grandchildren and many home improvement projects. It’s also where Star, Larry, her brother Pete and his wife, Wanda, would host their own extended family Festival of the Seven Fishes traditions for nigh of 30 years.

Star was Queen of the Cards as an avid card player and bested many worthy opponents at the VFW Hall and could whoop on all family members in a fast-paced game of Euchre. She would even play Euchre with her work peers and manage to get 4-5 games in at lunch. She was sharp as a tack and never had to ask “what’s trump again”? She was creatively talented and enjoyed ceramics, cross-stitch, scrapbooking, and card-making. You would always receive a Christmas Card without fail. Everyone who attended the Seven Fishes tradition would receive their own ceramic Christmas handmade ornament.

She was very active. She had the ability to move at breakneck speed. Larry would say, “Let’s go up north to the Vanderbilt cabin.” She could get us all packed up, truck gassed, and be readied to go in record time. The moss never grew under her feet! She enjoyed watching her sons play football, MSU football, bowling, walking, and roller-blading with Larry and her brother, Pete and his beautiful bride and life-long friend, Wanda, well into her 50’s. She was a very social person, a very loyal friend, and was always up for a visit or to lend a shoulder or assistance to anyone who was in need. She was gorgeous but not conceited and valued family and friendship to the utmost. Her and Larry would host over 200 friends and family at their home in Milford for potluck Labor Day parties where we’d roast huge pigs, have egg tosses, water balloon tosses, and volleyball tournaments, and pin the winning teams with goofy prizes. She literally glowed in these environments.

Although her work at McIntosh underwent transitions, through Masco Technology and Tower Automotive, Star remained steadfast in her finance profession and made life-long friends until she ultimately retired almost 40 years later.

After Star’s professional career ended with her retirement, she needed a new job and found it quickly … Nana’s School of Fun. Her, and Larry, took it upon themselves to instill summer fun and Star’s love of reading to their grandchildren that were in Michigan: Megan, Frankie, and Amanda. Every Summer weekday, Star would workout at Milford High School Gym in the wee morning hours and then take the kids on their Summer daily adventures which sometimes included a tasty stop at the Milford Bakery for coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts. There were even dance parties that were choreographed and showcased for parents. Although she never liked to fly, she also took flights to see her other grandchildren that lived out of state in Wyoming or Arizona. She also white-knuckled her international flight to England where her and Larry toured Europe. She continued in faith throughout her life, volunteering at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milford teaching catechism classes and volunteering at church functions.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings: Pete, Rosemary, and Joseph as well as sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Cecelia and Lee Assenmacher and Pauline Przekop, and dear niece Lisa Michalski (Damian). Star is survived by her loving and ever-faithful husband, Larry; proud children Frank Dziadosz (Michele), Jim Moon (Anna), Chris Dziadosz (Melissa), and Carole Schwinn (Tim); adoring grandchildren Frankie Dziadosz, Megan Moon (Brett Longstaff), Amanda Moon (Jake Gagne), Lauren Mayer (Andy), Nic Dziadosz (Kylie Ayers), Tara Priede, Ashley Priede, and Ukiah Dziadosz; and great grandchildren Aubree and Olivia Mayer. She is also survived by her nieces Toni Stumpo, Goddaughter Theresa Joy Canzano (Christian), Gina O’Sullivan (Daniel - Dano), Mary Fischer (Mark), Angie Miller (Nick), Lesley Misuraca-Foster (Jason), and MaryBeth Nicholas and nephews Peter Stumpo (Kristen), Bill Collins Jr. (Dawn), Danny Collins (Rosie), Joey Stumpo (Chris), Tom Stumpo (Dee), Tony Stumpo (Jennifer), Michael Assenmacher (Karen), Erik Przekop (Lisa) and Damian Michalski as well as 30 great nieces and nephews and special caring friends.

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, visitation will be held at Elton Black & Son Funeral Home located at 3295 East Highland Road, Highland, MI 48356, from 4pm-7pm. The Rosary Service will commence from 7pm-8pm.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, instate viewing will be available from 10am-11am at the Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church located at 3700 Harvey Lake Rd, Highland, MI 48356. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am. Please join the family for a luncheon in the Parish Hall immediately following her Mass.

A private interment will be held at Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that any memorial contributions for Star’s passing be made to the Church of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Please take a moment to upload condolences, photos, and memories you may have built with Star. All memories will be treasured and collated for a special keepsake for our family to share.