Stella Marie Mazman Hennessy passed away peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 4. She was 94.
Stella was born in the Fresno area, and attended local schools. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1941. She attended St. Paul Armenian Church.

During World War II, she served in the U.S.O., and it was at a U.S.O. dance that she met her future husband, Sergeant William “Bill” Hennessy, who was serving in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic. After the War, they were married and moved to San Mateo, where Stella worked as a bookkeeper and Bill worked for the U.S. Postal Service. With time, Bill was able to own and operate his own auto service station. Their two daughters, Jeanne and Arlene, were both born in San Mateo.
In the 1960’s, the family moved to Fresno, where Stella continued to work as a bookkeeper, and Bill worked for a Volkswagen dealer as a mechanic. Bill eventually opened and operated his own one-man Volkswagen repair shop. Jeanne and Arlene both graduated from Bullard High School.

Stella loved to play bridge, and spent many years playing as a member of a local bridge club. She won First Prize in at least one bridge tournament, and was able to play well into her senior years with friends and neighbors. She also did volunteer work in the St. Agnes Hospital Gift Shop.

She spent the last two years of her life in Fresno’s Nazareth House, where she received the utmost in kind and loving care. Her family will always remember and appreciate the care she received there.

Stella is survived by her dear sister Alice Koligian of Fresno; daughter Arlene Valencia and her husband Stephen of Gilroy; daughter Jeanne Hennessy of Sebastopol; grandson Aaron Behrens and his wife Christine of Santa Rosa; granddaughter Sarah McDonald and her husband Andrew of Gilroy; grandson Daniel Valencia of Gilroy; great-granddaughter Lucy Valencia of Gilroy; and great-grandson Caden Behrens of Santa Rosa. She is also survived by her nephew Robert “Bobby” Koligian, Esq., of Fresno; niece Jane Moosoolian of Fresno; nephew Rod Mazman and his wife Marilyn of Fresno; nephew Mike Mazman and his wife Barbara of Fresno; and numerous great-nieces and –nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, William Hennessy; her parents Gaspar and Marie Mazman; brother Andrew Mazman; sister-in-law Marietta Mazman; and brother-in-law Robert Koligian.

A Graveside Service is planned at 12:00 noon on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Odd Fellows section of the Mountain View Cemetery in Fresno.

Remembrances may be made to the Nazareth House, 2121 North First Street, Fresno, CA 93703 or to St. Paul Armenian Church, 3767 N. First Street, Fresno, CA. 93726.
 

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