Stella M. (Dawnorowicz) Koch, 89, passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025 at home. Stella was born on November 12, 1935 to the late Constantine and Mary (Falicka) Dawnorowicz. Stella attended Holyoke public schools and graduated from Holyoke High School. She worked for numerous Holyoke paper mills for many years. After working in the paper mills, she was considering joining the Sisters of St. Joseph. She had one evening where she was consoling a friend when she met the love of her life, Stanley. Although she had no interest at first because she was convinced she was to be Sister Stella, Stanley was persistent. They dated and she found out quickly that this was the "one". Stanley and Stella married on June 7, 1969. After marriage, Stella was adamant on being a mother. Unfortunately, because of her advanced age and the lack of technology, she had infertility issues. They were considering adopting until January of 1972, when she found out she was pregnant. She was so excited but nervous at the same time. How happy she was, nine months later, to be able to deliver a healthy baby girl. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, this would be the only child she would ever bear, she wrapped her whole heart and soul around this baby girl. She stopped working to be a stay at home mom. And what an amazing mother she was. She refused to go back to work until her daughter was in school, she wanted to make sure that she was well taken care of.

When she re-entered the workforce, she found her greatest joy working for the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke in a variety of positions, until her retirement. Stella absolutely loved going to work to see her veterans every day, she had so many that were considered her second family. Stella had many hobbies and loves outside of her family. She loved going fishing with her, as she referred to, her "favor sis", Donna Heinicke. They started just fishing on the weekends but ended up renting cottages on various different local lakes for weeks at a time. She also loved to gamble, whether it be a good Bingo game with her sister Helen and Donna or the casino in Atlantic City. She very rarely won but the laughs and memories made were worth the money spent. Stella embraced being a grandparent with open arms. To say she enjoyed every moment with her grandson and granddaughter is an understatement, they were her pride and joy. Whether she was babysitting, having them over for sleepovers, taking them out to eat, attending numerous sporting events, dance recitals or awards ceremonies, they were her life. Unfortunately, dementia robbed her of so many more memories that could have been made. Her family made the best memories they could in her final years, although she never remembered the next day, she was in the moment at the time and that is all that mattered.

Beside her parents, Stella was predeceased by her husband, Stanley P. Koch; her brother in law, Larry Batley; her "favor sis", Donna Heinicke and her beloved granddaughter, Alivia M. Deschaine. She will always be remembered by her daughter, Mary V. Koch-Rodriguez and her husband John; her grandchildren, Nicholas J. Rodriguez and Addison M. Rodriguez; her sister, Helen Batley; her brother, Francis Dawnorowicz; her niece Marianne Taylor and her husband Stephen; her great niece, Amanda Taylor - Lamontagne and her partner Liz Strong and her great - great niece, Avara Lamontagne.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, June 6, at 11:00 A.M. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton St. Holyoke, followed by burial in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in South Hadley. Calling hours will precede the service from 9:00 a.m. - 1030 a.m. at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home 2044 Northampton St. Holyoke. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to; in memory of Alivia M. Deschaine to Empty Arms Bereavement Support, 140 Pine St. Room B2, Florence, MA 01062; the former WestMass Elder Care, now Access Care Partners, Meals on Wheels Program, 4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to the Veterans' Home in Holyoke (formerly the Soldiers' Home) 110 Cherry St. Holyoke, Ma 01040