She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Tomas Vargas; her daughters Sonia, Lorrie, Sylvia, Gina, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, and Hilda; her 31 grandchildren; and her 17 great-grandchildren.
Stephanie was born on September 2, 1936, in Edcouch, Texas, to Juan and Maria Rendon. After moving to Fresno, California, she graduated from Washington Union High School in 1956 and later attended comptometer school, leading to a position at Swift and Company.
1956 also marked the beginning of her greatest adventure: meeting her husband, Tomas, at a dance at the Rainbow Ballroom. They married a year later in 1957. By age 30, Stephanie had found her true calling as a homemaker, where she was fully and lovingly dedicated to raising her seven daughters and caring for her husband.
As her daughters grew older, Stephanie shifted some time and focus to her various hobbies: reading the newspaper, baking desserts, sewing her own dresses, and dancing to Tejano and Cumbia music.
Everyone who met Stephanie saw that she was beautiful, elegant, and classy, but those who had an opportunity to get to know her saw her gentle spirit and servant’s heart. No matter where she was, Stephanie was meticulous at cleaning and organizing, making everything look its best in everything, putting others above herself.
Her greatest transformation occurred in 1963 when Stephanie received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. John 3:16 became her anchor and favorite verse. She spent the next 63 years sharing her faith, teaching in the “Good News Club” and leading in “AWANA”. At the heart of her ministry was a deep desire for people of all ages to know the gift of salvation that had so profoundly changed her own life.
When we are born, God gives each of us our own unique fingerprints. Our mother’s qualities are her fingerprints that she imprinted on those she loved.
