Jennie Alice (Salvatore) Stella

Jennie Alice Stella, 99, of Mondale Circle, Hummelstown, PA, died Friday, May 23, 2025, at the home of her daughter in Potomac, MD, surrounded by her loving family.

Born February 27, 1926, at home in Wilkes-Barre, PA, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Mary Salvatore. She was raised in the Keystone section of Plains Township, which is where she met and married her husband of 60 years, Dino Stella.

She will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; her family was everything to her. She was a strong woman who gifted everyone with her loving kindness, nurturing and forgiving qualities. Jennie remained close to her Italian roots throughout her life.

Jennie was preceded in death by her husband, Dino Stella, her sister Anna Zalaffi, and brothers Joseph Franchelli, Angelo Salvatore, and Paul Salvatore.

During WWII, Jennie worked at J B Carr Cookies, which were included in the G.I.’s K-rations during the war. Later, she worked for many years at the Keystone Dress Factory.  In 1971, she and her husband became house parents at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA, until their retirement.

She is survived by her daughters, Carole Joseph of Potomac, MD and Lorraine Schaeffer of Hummelstown, PA; grandchildren Erin-Kate Lobring and her husband Greg of Rockville, MD,  Michael Joseph and his wife Stacy of Bethesda, MD, Jennifer Eshleman and her husband Keith of Dillsburg, PA; great-grandchildren Charlotte Lobring, Evangeline Lobring, Patrick Joseph, Nora Joseph, Abby Joseph and Harper Eshleman as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial Mass, which will be celebrated at 2pm Friday, June 6, in the Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6150 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg, PA.  Private burial will be in the Hershey Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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