Irma (Mima) Stagner, a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, friend and business woman, passed away at her home in Newhall, CA, surrounded by family on the 22nd of September 2026 at the age of 94.
Mima was loving, engaging, and strong. She championed for her husband, Earl, to turn his passion for tennis into a successful family business and empowered her children and grandchild to pursue their passions in sports, the arts and their careers. When Mima spoke with you, you had her full attention and focus. She made everyone feel seen, heard and appreciated. After the successful sale of the tennis business at Griffith Park and retiring as the office manager from Ezralow CPA’s in Beverly Hills, Mima worked as a stylist at Macy's for another 20 years until the age of 81. Her clients would seek her out because she made them feel great when she helped them shop and always found them the best deals. While her laugh and smile endeared her to all who were lucky enough to make her acquaintance, it was her strength that never ceased to amaze. She was a force of nature. Once she set her mind to accomplish something, it was sure to be done. As a young woman in the 1950’s, she decided to immigrate to the United States from El Salvador to get an education, learn English and pursue her dreams. She settled in Los Angeles, found her true love with Earl Stagner and together they made a loving home and family. Throughout her life, it was Mima who made her dreams come true whether that was marrying the love of her life, running the family business, raising a family or making the best pecan pie you’d ever taste.
The small things endure as cherished memories as much as large life events. Monday movie nights as a family, gardening, vacations together, thanksgiving dinners, lunches, school pickups and hearing her recount the many stories of growing up in El Salvador visiting Coco Beach, and climbing the fruit trees in their yard. Mima cherished throughout her life, events and moments of all sizes, big or small. It was part of who she was to simply live life with love and care. Care for herself, care for those she loved and yes also care for places and things. This care did not come from vanity. It came from deep love and respect that she had for life and for the gifts that life bestowed upon her and those around her.
Mima has been welcomed into heaven by loved ones that have gone before her but especially her husband, Robert (Earl) Stagner. Mima will be missed by those that remain here, but her memory and lessons will be carried on by both family and friends. Mima leaves behind her loving family; son, Robert Stagner, daughter, Annabella Stagner, granddaughter, Victoria Stagner, daughter in laws, Bernice Stagner and Kerry McCracken and her nieces and nephews; Patti Stickles, Elba Lourdes Calderon de Zelaya, Carlitos Calderon, Eric Tibbets, Deborah Kohan, Ellen Gray, and Brenda Savage.
You can remember Mima best by being courageous to follow your dreams and remember to include others in those dreams too because (as Mima would say) it’s always more fun with a crowd.
