Stella Alves Salles Mattos

Stella was a member of Clube Athletico Paulistano in São Paulo, Brazil where she learned how to play tennis as a child. Stella attended the University of São Paulo in Brazil where she studied Law. She was an avid tennis player and traveled through Brazil, United States and Europe. She was one of the top tennis players in São Paulo, Brazil. After her tennis career, she decided to become an international flight attendant and travel the world. Sometimes she would fly to Europe and return to Argentina and Brazil on cruise ships. In the early 1960’s she settled in New York for 30 years and decided to open an import/export retail store in “Little Brazil Neighborhood”, New York City selling goods to Brazilians that visited the City. She moved to Houston, Texas to retire. During her retirement you would often find her watching “Futebol”- Soccer, her favorite teams was Atlético de Madrid and of course the Brazilian National Team. During the World Cup she would have several TV’s simultaneously broadcasting games. She loved “Jogo Bonito- the Beautiful game”.

She loved her grandchildren and gardening. She would keep busy planting variety of flowers, olive trees, lemon trees, and rose bushes.

She was preceded in death by her parents Antonio Carlos Salles Mattos & Lucinda Alves Salles Mattos. She is survived by her sister Yvone Alves Salles Mattos, three sons, Jose Cavaliere (Khrystyna)- Magnolia, Texas, Antonio Cavaliere- Houston, Texas, Steve Graziano (Sara)- Fishers, Indiana and grandchildren, Caroline, Ayrton, Christian and Sophia, Thomas, Daniella, Christina (Jared)- great granddaughter Zara.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 17, 2021 in the Day Chapel at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood Dr., Houston, Texas 77080.