Stella Marie Garrison's Obituary
Stella Marie Garrison
August 26, 1935 – November 15, 2014
Mrs. Stella Marie Garrison (née Pumphrey) died peacefully at Inova Fairfax Hospital on November 15 in Fairfax, Virginia. She was 79.
Stella was born on August 26, 1935 in Carbonear, Newfoundland, to Mary Elizabeth and John Joseph Pumphrey. She graduated from St. Joseph’s School in Carbonear in 1952, and married Jim, a U.S. Navy Petty Officer, in 1956. After active-duty assignments to Argentia, Newfoundland, Norfolk, Virginia, and London, England, they settled in Vienna, Virginia in 1973. Over 14 years, the couple welcomed four children (Sherri, Jimmy, Michelle, and Tami) into their home; after retirement they settled Ashburn, Virginia.
Family was everything to Stella. Her life purpose was to be a faithful follower of Christ, a loving and supportive wife to her husband Jim for 58 years, a dedicated and caring mother and grandmother, and a kind and welcoming mother-in-law. She was an overall fun-loving person, who was empathetic, generous, courageous and compassionate beyond measure. Her favorite pastimes were reading, playing Bingo, and playing the slot machines with her gambling partner Jim. Her zest and "fight" for life was remarkable to all those who met her. Regardless of how difficult her situation was, even until the very end, she was eager to listen or lend a shoulder to cry on. Some of her last words, regardless of how she was feeling, were asking about her grandchildren. She was a long-time member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Vienna, and St. Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn.
Stella is survived by her husband of 58 years, James Clifford Garrison (Jim), of Ashburn; her children Sharon Ann Hogue (Ronald Hogue), James Brady Garrison (Cheryl Garrison), Michelle Lynn Garrison Smith, and Tamela Garrison Luddy (John F. Luddy, II), all of Northern Virginia; brother, Kevin John Pumphrey, of Sunderland, Ontario; sisters Mary Paula Pumphrey Barbe, of Carbonear, Newfoundland, and sister Mary Bridget Pumphrey Gutierrez, of McLean, Virginia; 11 grandchildren, Adam Hogue, Elizabeth Hogue Krippner, Nadia Zagrodniczek, Victoria Garrison, Mitchell Baki, Jocelyn Luddy, James Garrison, Andrew Garrison, Garrison Smith, Natalie Baki, and Eliza Luddy; and two great-grandchildren Conley Krippner and Estelle Krippner. She is preceded in death by: her parents, Mary Elizabeth and John Joseph Pumphrey, and her sisters Angela Marie Powers of Gander, Newfoundland and Alice Maude White of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and brothers Edward of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Gerard and John of Carbonear, Newfoundland.
All are welcome to attend and celebrate Stella’s life.
Thursday November 20, 2014
Loudoun Funeral Chapel
158 Catoctin Circle, SE
Leesburg, VA 20175
703-777-6000
Viewing 2-4pm
Viewing 6-8pm
Friday November 21, 2014
St. Theresa Catholic Church
21371 St. Theresa Lane
Ashburn, VA 20147
Mass at 12pm
Donations may be made in her name in honor of her granddaughter to: Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation, P.O. Box 1092, West Seneca, New York 14224. www.dbafoundation.org
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