Stella “Steffie” Fox, the true definition of a Matriarch to her family, peacefully entered into eternal rest on September 27, 2024. She graced this earth with her presence for one hundred amazing years, although we somehow always thought she would live forever.

Steffie was born on May 24, 1924 to William and Mary Kloptosky Valinski.  Steffie was married to  Walter E. Fox, who passed away in 1963.  She lived most of her life in Whites Crossing up until August 2017, when she relocated to Carbondale where she lived with her niece and caregiver, Cheryl McCarthy for over 61/2 years.  For the past 9 months she was a resident of the Forest City Nursing home,  where she made wonderful friends while enjoying the many social activities there. “Aunt Steffie” taught us all not only what it means to be kind and loving to everyone else, but also how important it is to be kind and love yourself. After taking care of her family, she would then always reward herself with a “little treat”, usually in the form of a piece of jewelry or fashionable piece of clothing. She was an original “fashionista”. Steffie invented the term “self care” long before it became a  modern movement.  Every year she celebrated her birthday by taking the day off from work and encouraged us all to do the same. When she wasn’t out shopping, you could find her face hidden behind a Danielle Steel book, People magazine, working on her daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles and watching the Hallmark channel. But the most special time of her day was her devotion to watching the daily mass and praying the Rosary. She is now reunited with the love of her life, “her” Walter,  after  61 years of missing him. Steffie was a graduate of Fell High School, class of 1942.  She was employed in local dress factories before beginning what became her longest career which started with Daystrom and ended with Lockheed Martin, retiring in 2011 at the age of 87, where she met many, many friends and enjoyed going to work every day.

Steffie was preceded in death by sisters: Beatrice Costolnick and Helen Cook; brothers: John and Raymond; and a great-great nephew: Linus Mic Opalka

She is survived by nieces: Cheryl McCarthy, Carbondale; Glenda Cook, Connecticut; Romaine Markel (Dennis) Texas; Sandie Grandinetti, Honesdale; Gail Srobnoski, South Abington Township; and Lori Mattise (Chris) Archbald; Nephews: Jim “Coz” Costolnick, Starlight; Gary Cook, Connecticut, John Valinski, Honesdale;
and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

As per her request, a private Mass of Christian Burial was held in Saint Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale, with interment in Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.  Arrangements by the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale.