Date of death: 5/27/2010

Saint Meinrad Class: SS 1979

Sister Mary Stella Aquilina, age 80, died on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at Seton Residence in Evansville, Ind. She was born on January 14, 1930, in Detroit, Mich. Sister Mary Stella was one of four daughters born to Joseph and Ellen Mary (Portenier) Aquilina. She had completed a bachelor’s in education at the University of Detroit, before joining the Daughters of Charity on December 30, 1951. Her ministry as an elementary teacher began in January 1953 at Immaculate Conception Academy in Cambridge, Mass. Sister Mary Stella also taught at Nazareth Home, Boston, Mass.; Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, Md.; and Our Lady of Peace School, Canton, Ohio. In 1959, she earned a master’s in elementary education from Boston College. From August 1969-1997, she served as elementary principal at the following schools: St. Thomas, Long Beach, Miss.; St. Patrick, LaSalle, Ill.; St. Christine, Youngstown, Ohio; and St. James Major, Prichard, Ala. Sister was also local superior for 25 years during that time. Sister Mary Stella served as Development Director for St. James Major School from August 1997- 2001. For the next four years, she was Catholic Identity Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, in Mississippi. Sister moved to Evansville in September 2005, to become a volunteer at St. Vincent Day Care Center. She became a receptionist at Mater Dei Provincialate in 2009. Sister Mary Stella is survived by her sisters, Theresa (Dan) Bauer, Royal Oak, Mich.; Jessie Giszczak, Madison Heights, Mich.; and Rita (Tom) Kraniak, Troy, Mich.; nieces and nephews; her Sisters in Community and many friends.