Stella S. Hunt

Stella "Dolly" Hunt was born February 27, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. She lived with her parents, two sisters and four brothers in a two-bedroom second floor apartment on a busy street on the west side of Chicago. She was the youngest of the seven children.

Her parents were both immigrants. Her father Polish, her mother Croatian. Her mother spoke no English during the time Stella was raised. She grew up during the great depression of the 20s and 30s and during WWII, very poor, as her parents struggled to survive during those desperate times. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic girl’s school playing volleyball for her high school team. She graduated in 1943.

Stella met her life-long husband at a movie theatre in Chicago during the war. After a year of dating, they were married one day before her 18th birthday in 1944. After a short 2-day honeymoon in Washington DC, her new husband was deployed to the Pacific not returning till after the war in 1945. Upon return, they moved to Colton, Oregon, moving in with her husband’s mother who ran a chicken farm. They lived there for several years, saving money and making babies, until they were able to build their build dream home in 1953 on NE Halsey St in Portland. Stella would live in that house for 72 years.

Stella was a housewife as was customary during those days. She ran the household, cooked, cleaned and raised her three sons while the husband worked. Only later when her sons were out of the house or older, did she take a job as a salesclerk at a department store that she worked at for 15 years. Her favorite hobbies included sewing, cooking, going to the movies, camping, playing pinochle which she was a master at, charity work including meals on wheels and others, and she loved going to the beach. She also enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears and later the Oregon Ducks on TV. She was active with friends playing cards or other board games on a regular basis. In fact, she was playing pinochle with her friends only six days prior to her passing.

She was a kind and loving mother and person. She would always help those in need including her mischievous sons or grandchildren, or friends that needed help. Her love and support for family never wavered.

Stella and her husband, Fletcher Hunt Sr, were what you consider social animals. It was that way living during the 50s and 60s after WWII where all suffered common hardships. They had an incredible number of friends, who also had kids that played together. Most of those early friends lasted an entire life. Along the way they always made new friends and frequently dined together, played board games together, took trips and camped together.

But, even with all their friends, Stella liked the simple life where family and friends were most important. At age 99 years and nine months, she was still sharp even though she physically struggled, Stella never lost her sense of humor and loving care for family and friends. She was touched by many and will be missed as she sits side by side with her husband in God’s hands.

Stella was hospitalized on November 22 and passed away peacefully 24 hours later November 23, 2025, with family by her side. She always said she wanted to go quickly, and God fulfilled that wish.

A burial and committal gathering will be held at Willamette National Cemetery, located at 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, Oregon, 97086, on January 23, 2026, starting at 1:15 pm.

Please be at the cemetery at 12:45 pm for the procession to the committal site.