Stella Ann Cahalane

Stella Ann (Stopyra) Cahalane, 86, of Methuen, MA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2020. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of sixty-six years, John H. Cahalane, who just passed away five days before her.

She is the daughter of the late Augustyn Stopyra and Julia (Napora) Stopyra.

Stella grew up in Lawrence, MA, and graduated from St. Mary’s High School where she met and married her husband. She would follow her husband anywhere while he was in the Air force. They were inseparable.

Stella was a long term employee at the IRS in Andover, MA, until her retirement.

Her and her husband’s camp at Province Lake was the place Stella could relax with family and friends. She also liked to travel and take cruises or go to favorite place Foxwoods Casino. She loved to eat out any chance she could as well as dance with her favorite partner, her husband. Stella got excited every week when her son would bring her lottery tickets to scratch. She enjoyed reading a good book, shopping, crocheting, word search puzzles, and watching her games shows and drinking her Manhattans. She collected Annalees, Beany Babies, and figurines. Stella was a loving, caring mother and opened her home to all who would join them during the holidays. At Christmas time they would house-hop from one aunt and uncle to another. Christmas was an extra special holiday for her so she would leave her tree up all year round. She was known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as Bubchie.

Stella was a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church until they moved to Methuen in 1986 where they became parishioners at St. Lucy Church. Her and her husband lived there until September of 2017 when she joined him in October at Wingate Nursing facility in Haverhill, MA.

She was predeceased by her brothers: Julian, John, Chester, Ted Stopyra, and her sister, Barbara (Stopyra) Federchuck.

Stella is survived by her children: Steve Cahalane and his wife Lorie (Ayers) Cahalane of Derry, NH, Timothy Cahalane and his wife Kay Cahalane of Spearfish, SD, Catherine (Cahalane) Piantigini and her husband John Piantigini of Methuen, and AnnMarie (Cahalane) Lamontagne and her husband Bill Lamontagne of Lawrence. She leaves behind her loving grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and cousins.

Do not cry for me for I am not alone. He taketh me to heaven where I am safe at home.

Due to the current health situation, all services and burial for Stella will be held in private with the assistance of Cataudella Funeral Home in Methuen. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Stella Ann Cahalane to the National Alzheimer’s Assoc. 309 Waverly Oaks Rd. Waltham, MA 02452.