Stella J. Pietrykowski, age 96, formerly of Chicago, Ill., and Mountain Home, Ark., passed away Sunday morning, June 30, 2019 at her current home in Fairview Heights, Ill.

Stella grew up in Chicago. As a young lady, she joined the Army and later transitioned to the Air Force and served honorably for 4 years. She worked as a payroll clerk for the American Can Company in Chicago. Upon her retirement, she purchased her retirement home in the area of Mountain Home, Ark., where she enjoyed many years. She kept a beautiful yard and enjoyed vegetable gardening and flower gardening. Stella was a very kind, compassionate, and generous lady who lived her Catholic faith in many ways. She moved to the Metro-east a year ago to be close to her sister and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Josephine, nee Rypel, Pietrykowski; her brother Anthony and sister Josephine.

Survivors include her sister Helen Blacharczyk of Smithton, Ill., nephews and nieces Frank Blacharczyk of Shiloh; Dennis Blacharczyk of Red Bud, Ken Blacharczyk of Belleville, Barb Mueth of Swansea, Mary Jo Martens of Montreal, Canada, and Connie Steffanus of Indiana.

Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children's Hospital or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Smithton, Illinois. Donations may be mailed to the funeral home.

Funeral: 2 pm, Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Resurrection Cemetery Chapel, 7201 Archer Avenue, Justice, Ill., with Deacon Richard Voytas officiating.