Stella R. Scarla

Stella R. Scarla, age 95, passed away on Saturday, February 26th 2022. Born August 6, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, Stella was the oldest of eight children who were born to Nicholas and Agnes (Ogrodwoski) Malapanes. The Malapanes Family moved to Phoenix in 1946. Stella met Ray her husband at a Glendee, a dance at the Greek Orthodox Church in Phoenix and instantly fell in love. You might say, Ray swept her off her feet. The young couple eloped 6 weeks later and traveled to Chicago, eventually settling in Washington, DC. Their first two children, Anna Mary and Aris Ray were born there. They relocated back to Arizona in 1951 to be closer to their large families. Their son Nicholas was born in 1953 at St. Joseph's Hospital. Ray, who was a local Contractor, passed away in 1968 leaving Stella a young widow, to raise her family single handedly. Stella was the owner and operator of Kiddie Korner Nursery Daycare 35 years. Stella liked travel and adventure. She drove the Alaskan Highway in 1975 when it was still a wild and scenic dirt road. She vacationed in Hawaii, spent 20 plus summers in Oregon, and toured Germany, France, and Greece.

She enjoyed camping and fishing, and spent many weekends in Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Rocky Point and Lobos Mexico doing so. When Stella was 82, she and her younger sister Georgia (80) drove from Phoenix to Chicago and onto Wisconsin to visit relatives. They had so much fun on the trip they did it again the following year adding a stop in Las Vegas on the way back. An adventurous spirit for sure. Stella was a member and the past President of Beta Omicron Sorority, a philanthropic organization for 40 years. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she will be missed. Stella is survived by her children Ann Mary O'Hara (Michael O'Hara) Aris Ray Scarla (Catherine Scarla) and Nicholas Ray Scarla (Tara Scarla), her 8 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren, her siblings Georgia McCormick, Hercules Malapanes, and Effie Churchill, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers Vasilios (Bill) Malapanes, James Nicholas Malapanes, Pete Malapanes, and sister Mary McGann.