Virginia Carol Stella, age 90, passed on October 7, 2024, in San Rafael, California. Born 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Stella and Josephine Sottosanti, she went to church on Sundays, then roamed the Cleveland Art Museum, inspired by her favorite botanical-spiritual paintings by Odilon Redon. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and her master’s degree from the University of Michigan. After marrying, she worked as an elementary school special needs teacher before settling in Marin. Rekindling her artistic passion, she studied art at the College of Marin, IVA, Dominican College, the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and Holy Names University, exhibiting her work at fairs, exhibits, and her home studio. She enjoyed charcoal and pastel drawing; her mix of art and spirituality always sprang from a strong independent spirit!<br><br>Always an advocate for the underdog and those experiencing hardship, Virginia gave freely of her time and resources to many non-profits, focusing on diabetes, mental health, homelessness, and outreach groups of the Catholic faith. She is survived by her children Gregory R. Metz, Melissa S. Standish, John H. Metz, and Nina M. Westfall, as well as her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She cherished her Aldersly friends and St. Rita Church community in Fairfax. Celebration of Life: Saturday, Nov. 9, 11:00 at St. Rita Church, 100 Marinda Dr., Fairfax, California, followed by a reception in the church hall. The family thanks Monte's Chapel of the Hills. Donations in lieu of flowers: Marin Open Space Trust or St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin.<br>