Stella R. Rojas of Canon City, CO (formerly of Garden City, KS) gained her angel wings to heaven on June 28, 2022, surrounded by family at her side. Stella was born in Dodge City, KS on November 4, 1932, to Antonio Romero- Rodriguez and Petra Esquibel-Rodriguez. On August 8, 1955, Stella married the love of her life, Antonio (Tony) Avila-Rojas. They had two children, Tony and Renee. Stella began her young life living in the Mexican Village, where she shared so many stories about love and laughter. They later moved out of the Village into the house her dad built for the family and the first ones on the block with a TV. The stories and memories she shared with us about her growing up will be so cherished, along with Stella’s most special love: her family, Sunday dinners, and her flowers. Stella graduated from Dodge City High School in 1950, then from St. Anthony Nursing School, operated at the time by the sisters of St. Joseph, in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in medical, surgical, and obstetrical nursing. She was a registered nurse for 40 years.
Stella worked with amazing doctors throughout her years: Dr. Fenton, Dr. Maxfield, Dr. Spikes, Dr. Kalbeck, Dr. Miller, and Dr. Hansen. During her years in Garden City, KS, she was a member of the American GI Forum, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, The American National Red Cross Nursing and Health Programs, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Canon City, CO. Stella is survived by daughter Renee Wigner of Canon City, CO, grandson Joshua Coates, his wife Nicole, their children Nathaniel, Jeremiah, and Chloe of Canon City, CO, granddaughter Brooke Bilbrey, her husband Dale, their children Zoey and Zanna of Florence, CO, grandson Kiefer Rojas, his wife Raeann, their children Quinn, Maximus, and Thomas of Peyton, CO, sister Lillian Ortiz (Johnny) of Littleton, CO, sister Gloria Blea (Edward), sister Virginia Navarro of Hutchinson, KS, daughter-in-law Brenda Rojas of Garden City, KS, sister-in-law Jane Rodriguez of Lynn Center, IL, and many other in-laws, nephews, and nieces. Stella is preceded in death by her parents, husband Antonio (Tony) Rojas, son Tony Rojas III, son-in-law Steve Wigner, and brothers Danny Rodriguez and Freddie Rodriguez. Services will be held Friday, September 2, 2022, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 509 St. John St. Garden City, KS with Rosary at 1:00 pm, Funeral Mass at 2:00 pm, and burial at 3:00 pm at Valley View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to GCCC Endowment Association for the Antonio/Stella Rojas Scholarship.