Stella Lambetecchio

Stella was born in Madera, CA on November 12, 1933, to Greek immigrants George and Patricia Afferino. She was raised in the Fresno area and lived there her entire life. As the youngest of 8 children, and after losing her father at a young age, she was forced to grow up fast. Stella graduated from Edison High School in 1951, and it was there that she met the love of her life, Charlie Lambetecchio. They soon married and started a family where they were blessed with 3 beautiful girls: Patricia, Sandra, and Catherine.

Stella had an exemplary work ethic. She could always be found with either a broom, rake, or vacuum in her hand. She enjoyed tending to her yard and garden and she kept her home spotless. She also assisted with the family business, Fresno Madera Ice & Liquor, stocking the shelves and, of course, keeping it clean. One tradition that the family always looked forward to was their annual weekend of homemade tomato sauce making. Stella's backyard would be transformed into a sauce factory, and she made sure everyone had a job to help, no matter how big or small. Stella was also proud of her Greek heritage and specialized in Greek cuisine. She was known for her famous Spanakopita and Kourabiedes. She also made sure to teach her children and grandchildren the language and dances. Opa!

Stella devoted her entire life to her family and was always there supporting them. Whether it was working in the family vineyard, following Charlie across the country from car show to car show, or cooking pasta for her entire family every Sunday, everything Stella did, she did so with grace and humility. Stella truly had a heart of gold and touched the lives of everyone she met, leaving a lasting legacy of kindness. We are going to miss you Yaya, you will be forever in our hearts!

Stella is preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Lambetecchio. They were married for 71 years and are now reunited in Heaven. She is also preceded in death by her parents, George and Patricia Afferino, her brothers Ted, George Jr., and Chris Afferino, and her sisters, Violet Photopoulos, Anna Afferino, Julie La Britt, and Athens Tonozzi.

Stella is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Ron) Schneider, Sandra Peelman, and Catherine (Richard) Bischel; her grandchildren Stephanie (Jeff) Nalesnik, Charlie (Allee) Schneider, John Ross (Kristen) Peelman, Anthony (Katie) Bischel, and Richard (Kalyn) Bischel, as well as seven great grandchildren. Stella also leaves behind nephews, nieces, and countless extended family members who will all miss her dearly.

The family would like to express a special heartfelt thank you to all of Stella's caregivers from Visiting Angels that provided her with exceptional support and loving care.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, found at the link below.

A funeral service for Stella Lambetecchio will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church at 10:00am on February 4th, 2025, and a committal service will follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.