Stella Franco Saffan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully on May 20, 2021 at the age of 90. Stella was born in New York City on January 2, 1931, to Isaac and Regina (Ferezy) Franco. She was married to Aaron D. Saffan on June 23, 1951 in the Bronx, New York. They were married 64 years. Aaron passed away in 2015. Stella and Aaron lived on Long Island, New York for decades before moving to South Carolina in 1979. In 1994, they retired to Boca Raton, Florida where they enjoyed many years with friends and family. In her later years, Stella moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to live with her son and daughter-in-law, David and Josette, and her granddaughter, Shelley.
Stella is survived by her children, Rosanne Santini, Jeanne Saffan, and David Saffan (Josette); her brothers, Albert Franco (Deborah) and Victor Franco (Jieying); her grandchildren, Alanna Santini (Nick), Adam Santini (Tanjeet), Jessica Grill, and Shelley Saffan; her nieces and nephews, Reyna Katz, Roberta Glick, Zachary Franco, Anna Franco, and Eugene Franco.
Stella was a warm, loving person whose intellect knew no bounds. She brightened the lives of all who knew her and found themselves in the presence of her captivating smile and infectious laugh. Stella was a great friend to many, who never forgot a birthday and always marked an occasion with a greeting card. In her professional life, Stella became indispensable at Clemson University’s Development Office where she was responsible for introducing the office to computers, Word Perfect and Excel. She was ahead of her time. Stella also had special talents, such as painting, sewing, knitting, and cooking, and she loved to host holiday meals, bar-be-cues and parties. In addition to enjoying favorite performers, such as Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte, above all, Stella loved a good joke, and the comedians who could make her laugh out loud.
An intimate family service was held on May 24, 2021, at Menorah Gardens, Southwest Ranches Florida.
She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have known her. The world has lost one of the best and the brightest.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.menorahfuneralchapel.com for the SAFFAN family.