Stella West, born Stella Mary Bruce, passed away peacefully in Toronto on November 12th, 2022 with her family by her side.
Stella was born at Searstown, in the beautiful Codroy Valley of Western Newfoundland. Growing up on a farm during the depression taught her that life can be challenging. She suffered from tuberculosis as a young woman, but long months in a sanitorium did not defeat her. Stella recovered and lived a long life with good cheer and a ready smile. She loved to laugh and was proud of her Newfoundland heritage; she could always be counted on for an encouraging story or two from her childhood.
She attended St. Michael’s Catholic College, a private girls’ school in St. Georges, NL and became a teacher. She later worked for the United States Air Force at the Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, NL.
She married Ralph West, who predeceased her. They had two children, Marleen and Ralph, and made their home in Nova Scotia, where she lived most of her life. She moved to Ontario to be near her children during her final years.
Stella loved the natural world and the animals and plants in it. She was quick to talk about the dogs, lovebirds, and other pets she had over the years. She tended to leave the less conventional stories for others to tell — such as the time she carpeted her floors with newspaper because she had taken in a clutch of motherless chicks. They followed her everywhere. The smallest one was the ringleader. She called him Goliath.
She especially loved the birds, berries and beaches, surrounding her home of many years near Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. She spent joyous hours and ranged many miles on the dunes and salt flats that surrounded her, enjoying the scenery and the wildlife; and could identify most of the local birds. She loved picking blueberries and partridgeberries, and kept the best spots a closely guarded secret.
When she moved back to Dartmouth, she brought the coastline with her and frequently returned. Her condo was scattered with colourful tumbled stones, driftwood and shells she found on her walks. When she moved to Ontario, these finds came with her — heavy stones and long sticks included.
Stella was the picture of health, slim and lively. It is little wonder that she lived such a long life. She was a voracious reader and a faithful patron of the library. She loved conversing with her friends about the varied books she read.
She had a bounce in her step and a twinkle in her eye, which did not diminish with age. A visit to her home revealed her boundless energy as clearly as her flourishing indoor plants and abundant garden showed off her green thumb. She loved to knit and kept her grandson, Daniel, well supplied with warm socks and sweaters.
Her deep-rooted faith in God gave her assurance of going to a better place, and there is no doubt that she is now at peace. She is loved and missed by her daughter Marleen, son Ralph, grandson Daniel, sister Martina, niece Sandra, sister-in-law Vera and her many friends.
If you would like to share your own memories of Stella, or see memories that others have shared, you can do so on the memories & condolences page.
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