Stella Irene Christ, 91, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Liberty, Mo., surrounded by her family.

Stella was born June 27, 1931, in McAllister, Okla., to John Graden and Anna Stevens Hudson. She graduated in 1950 from Rockport High School in Rockport, Mo. Stella worked as a Western Union telegraph operator in several states before settling in Leavenworth, where she met her future husband, Robert Thomas Christ. They were married on Aug. 13, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church in Leavenworth.

She worked for many years in the furniture and appliance departments at Montgomery Ward in Leavenworth.

Stella valued faith, family, service and education, and she instilled those values in her eight children. While her children were attending Leavenworth Catholic schools, she volunteered in the elementary school library. She was an accomplished seamstress, and she made school uniforms for many of the students who attended Sacred Heart. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society, baking and serving cakes for funeral dinners and helping with the annual bazaar. She made bedrolls and comfort kits for the homeless, and as a member of the St. John’s Hospital Guild, she made hundreds of teddy bears for hospitalized children.

Stella also was known for her culinary talents. She was famous for her cinnamon rolls, crescent cookies and homemade grape jelly and apple butter. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren headed straight for the kitchen when they visited, eager to partake of the homemade goodies. Stella also made sure to share her talents, stocking the shelves of the Sacred Heart food pantry with homemade grape jelly to be used for meals for the homeless.

Stella was preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. Christ; a grandson, Brian Ernst; a son-in-law, Brian Montague; two brothers, Gene Hudson and Don Hudson; three sisters, Glenda Hudson, Colleen Hudson and Betty Hudson; and a brother-in-law, Larry Bonderer.

She is survived by seven daughters, Regina Christ and her partner, Henry Josefsberg, of Westminster, Calif., Therese Flynn and husband Pat, of Littleton, Colo., Joyce Hutchings and husband Joel, of Bucyrus, Patricia Christ, of Denver, Colo., Rose Christ and fiancé Mike Muirhead, of Garden City, Sharon Montague, of DeSoto, and Michelle Rogers and husband Dan, of Liberty, Mo.; one son, Robert Christ, of Leavenworth; four sisters, Louise Bonderer, of Cameron, Mo., Donna Bose, of Harrisonville, Mo., Barbara Barton and husband Dennis, of Grandview, Mo., and Libby Hudson, of Grandview, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Marlene Hudson, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and Toddy Hudson, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and two brothers, Jim Hudson and wife Linda, of Kidder, Mo., and Larry Dean Hudson and wife Brenda, of Newtown, Mo.; 13 grandchildren, Cathleen Brown, Sean Flynn, Shannon (Tim) Kelly, Treah (Evan) Carpenter, Kayla Hutchings, Shealyn (Kevin) Crocombe, Trevor (Racquel) Green, Mark (Clara) Montague, Kimberly (Connor) Caldwell, Tara Rogers, Jake Rogers, Zach Rogers and Ty Rogers; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter expected in January who is to be named Stella Rose.

Visitation is planned for 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 20. 2022 with a rosary to be said at 4:30 p.m., at Belden Larkin Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, November 21, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1401 2nd Ave, Leavenworth. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions in her name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Catholic Charities.