Sophia A. RUSS

25 DEC 1921 - 1 JAN 2012

• BIRTH: 25 DEC 1921, La Porte, La Porte, Indiana
• DEATH: 1 JAN 2012, Huntersville, Mecklenburg, North Carolina

• MARRIAGE: 12 JUN 1943, Laporte, Laporte, Indiana

INDEX

[N13094] Sophia Stepanek, 1921-2012
Jan 2nd, 2012

Sophia Ann Stepanek, 90, formerly of LaPorte and most recently of Charlotte, NC, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at the Levine and Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, NC. She was born Dec. 25, 1921, in LaPorte to Joseph and Pauline (Dombroski) Russ. Mrs. Stepanek worked at Levine’s Department Store in LaPorte for years in the men’s department, retiring after 22 years when the store closed. She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and its Altar Rosary Society. She was a quilter and loved to knit and crochet. On June 12, 1943, in LaPorte, she married Stanley A. Stepanek, who preceded her in death on March 7, 2005. She was also preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and five brothers. Surviving are three daughters, Nancy (Jay) Bunton of Charlotte, NC, Chris (Florian) Predd of LaPorte and Susan (Steve) Manering of LaPorte; three sons, Fred (Ginalyn), Randall (Susan) of Fort Wayne, IN, and Chip (Theresa) of Murfreesboro, TN; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Martha Pilarski of South Bend, IN. A memorial and Catholic burial service will be held Friday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, with Rev. Ian Williams officiating. Visitation will be Friday from noon until the service. A private family burial will be held at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte, following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry, 128 Bach St., LaPorte, IN 46350; and to the Levine and Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078. Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.