Stella Opal Kerkvliet

Stella Opal Kerkvliet was born in Kellogg Idaho on July 25, 1928 and passed peacefully on June 12, 2020 in Cedar Glen, California. She was preceded in death by her husband Bernard Ferdinand Kerkvliet and oldest son Gary Kerkvliet. She is survived by her son Bernie Kerkvliet and his wife Marianne Kerkvliet, daughters Carol Kerkvliet and Dona Kerkvliet-Varin, husband Robert Gugler, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Stella was born to a bootlegger father “Hap” (Orville) Haptonstall and a Salvation Army Captain mother Frieda Baker Haptonstall. She was raised in the northwest United States as well as Canada. She was only a small child when her mother died suddenly and was sent for a short time to live with her maternal family on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Later she was raised by her father and step-mother and worked her way through high school by attending to the elderly in a Convalescent Home. She married Bernard in 1949 however he died in 1957 leaving her as a young widow with four children. She raised her four children on her own, teaching them to be independent, kind and love God. Her children’s education was important to Stella and she saw to it that all graduated from college. She instilled in her children the need to be independent and the ability to take care of themselves no matter what life threw at them. Her eldest son Gary often commented on her courage as demonstrated that even when she was afraid, she made a decision and dealt with the consequences good or bad.

Stella was familiar face especially around Cedar Glen. In the 60’s she started working at Country Furniture when it was still in Cedar Glen. She then went on to work at the Cedar Glen Hardware Store until about 1980. She went to work at Jensen’s Minute Shop as an assistant manager for more than 20 years. It was there that many would come to know and love her. She could quiet often be seen helping or advising many locals on the mountain.

She was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic church since 1966 when she moved from Montana to Lake Arrowhead, California. Her faith was her North Star and her devotion to the blessed Mary was unwavering. She said the rosery daily for her family and long list of friends. Each day she lived her deep faith through charitable acts from making a waitress smile to regularly sending money to a family in Africa.

There is no doubt that she turned heads when she walked into a room. She possessed a definite style and easily wore fancy sequined blouses and matching sparkly earrings for everyday wear. Even in her later years, when she was more house bound, she always selected an outfit for the day with matching earrings. Her outfits were a reflection of her artistry. Throughout her 91 years, she painted innumerable oil paintings and published three books of poems. If not painting or writing poetry, she crocheted and cross-stitched countless number of often complicated afghans.

In her later years, she found love from Robert Gugler and spent years going on adventures near and far enjoying one another’s humor and curiosity. Robert held her hand in her passing to heaven.

A private burial will be held on June 30, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Celebration of life will be announced for a future date when all who want may celebrate her life well lived.

In her own words “God has always blessed me. Watch me day and night. Given me what’s best for me. When doubt has dimmed my sight, sometimes I used to wonder, now I never do. His ways are often hidden. This I’ve learned ‘ tis true. I used to ask the question, “ Please dear God why?”. The answer comes within your heart. It will never lie. There always is a reason, though hidden it may be. It’s not for us to question, not for us to see. “

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.montecitomemorialparkandmortuary.com for the Kerkvliet family.