Mary Ella Stone

Mary Ella Stone, 82, of Rockford, Illinois passed away peacefully on October 6th, 2021.

She was born on September 16th, 1939 to Isabel Fissinger and Jack Culhane in Rockford, Illinois. She attended Muldoon High School and continued onto Loyola University. Later on with 4 young children she returned to Northern Illinois University where she received her degree in teaching. In 1961, she married the love of her life, David J. Stone, who passed away in 2018. As a business partner with her husband she helped manage multiple business in northern Ill. Together they raised four adored children. The few years that she spent teaching while raising her own children, were prized memories, which she continued to speak of nearly 60 years later. Mary Ella had a true passion for knowledge and learning that she carried with her throughout life. She was as bright as she was beautiful. Her favorite life interests included traveling with her husband, reading, telling stories to her family, and talking openly and connecting to everybody that she met, young or old. Mary Ella's presence would light up a room, with her warmth, humor and intelligence. She was the absolute definition of one of a kind. Not many could top her elegance, kind heart and sense of style. She was the best mother, grandmother, wife, aunt, sister, and sister-in-law that one could ask for.

She is survived by her children, Michael, Daniel, and Katy Stone; grandchildren, Alexander, Lucas and Makayla Stone, Olivia and Jemma Offer, and Rey Gilardez; great-grandchildren, Elias and Oliver Stone; sister, Libby Keating; brothers, Mark (Cher) Culhane and Dick (Lee) Culhane; son-in-law, Nic Offer; daughter-in-law, Linda Stone; sister-in-laws; Hind Culhane, and many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. Mary Ella is predeceased by her parents; her husband, David Stone; her son, Steve Stone; her brother, Johnny Culhane; her sister Patty Munat and brother-in-law Joe Keating.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel 3910 N Rockton Ave. Rd, Rockford, IL 61103 at 11:00am followed by a funeral at Noon at Fitzgerald’s.

Mary Ella's grandchildren would like to add that that when growing up she would offer “happy or sad, choose one,” while holding both hands out as options. Although we have lost a true light in our lives, we are choosing to be thankful for the gem of a woman that we were given, her love will live on in us all.