Stella Ada Mary Brecht

Stella Ada Mary Brecht, 99 years old

Stella Ada Mary Brecht, age 99, of Whittier, CA, passed away on June 7, 2024 at Whittier CA. She was born in Windsor England on August 3, 1924 and grew up in Eton, England next to the prestigious Eton College founded by King Henry VI in 1440. She graduated from school at age 16 and joined the Red Cross nursing program. She subsequently worked in a chem lab. At 17 and a half years old she left the lab and joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), a branch of the British Royal Air Force, as a radar technician during WWII where she was stationed in a one room underground bunker in a farm field. During the war, Stella met her husband, an American in the Army Air Corps stationed nearby. Their first child Patrick was born in England. She traveled with her infant son along with other war brides to the USA. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary to New York and then boarded a train and traveled across the United States to her husband’s hometown of Fresno, California. 

She loved family and welcomed lifelong friends with open arms. She enjoyed needlework and was an avid reader who instilled a love of reading in her children, family and school children during decades as a librarian. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, and a member of the Catholic Library Association, Girl Scouts of America, Los Angeles Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Sponsor, US Coast Guard Auxiliary and Women’s Auxiliary of Whittier College.

Stella is survived by 2 daughters, Deborah and Brigid, 4 sons, Patrick, Gregory, Jeffrey and Brendan, 24 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Stella was preceded in death by her husband Ernest Brecht and daughter Stephanie Brecht Hudgins.

The family wishes to thank those who cared for her over the years. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Foundation, the Girl Scouts of the USA or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on behalf of her great granddaughter, Danika Davis. 

Services to honor and celebrate Stella's life will be held at various locations: A Vigil and Prayer Service will take place on June 25, 2024 at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at White Emerson Mortuary in Whittier, CA. A Mass will be held on June 26, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Whittier, CA. The Graveside Service at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA is scheduled for June 26, 2024 directly following Mass. 

You can share your thoughts and memories on the White Emerson Mortuary website guestbook