Stella Marie (Sprehe) Deal, beloved wife to Charles Henry Deal, mother to Charles and Andrew Deal, passed away on June 17, 2026 after a brief illness. She was 85 years old.
A longtime resident of Sarasota/Bradenton in retirement, and previously Chicago, IL, Durham, NH, Ledyard, CT, Quincy IL, and St. Louis, MO, Stella was a lifelong friend to many. Always a cheerful presence and a genuine ‘funny lady’, she loved good times with friends and family. She was also a dedicated caregiver: first as a nurse, then as a wife and mother, then as an OB/GYN nurse practitioner, and finally as a grandmother to her beloved grandchildren.
She was born in 1940 to Francis Louis Sprehe and Stella Marie (McGuire) Sprehe – the middle child of 9 – the only girl surrounded by 8 brothers. She grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Rosary Elementary School and Bishop McGuinness High School, before attending Rosary College and later graduating in 1962 with a degree in speech therapy from St. Louis University.
While at SLU, she met the love of her life – Charlie. They were married in 1963, and celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary before Charlie’s death in 2012.
In the 1970’s Stella went back to school for nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse in hospital emergency rooms. In the 1980’s she again furthered her education by earning a Masters degree and becoming a registered OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner. Stella’s career included stints in women’s healthcare clinics and fertility practices. She maintained her RN license into her late 60s.
After raising their children, Stella and Charlie fulfilled a lifelong aspiration to travel, and enjoyed many trips with friends. Among their destinations were Panama, Scandinavia, and Western Europe.
In early retirement, Stella loved accompanying Charlie on his trips to race tracks across the Southeastern US – sharing her husband’s passion for racing his high-speed go-kart.
Stella became a grandmother in 1996 and welcomed 5 grandchildren over the next few years. Grandma Stella and Grandpa Charlie dropped everything and gave their undivided attention when the grandkids visited. Their Florida home was a magical place where grandma followed the little ones from their games in the pool to her enormous walk-in closet for dress-up; and filled every day with love.
Over the years, Stella cultivated a rich tapestry of friendships which she treasured completely – grown throughout a life of moving from place to place. She always made the effort to stay in contact with friends from grade school, high school, college, churches, Welcome Wagons, gourmet groups, bridge clubs, Mahjong clubs, and book clubs.
She was also happy to share her expertise as a nurse, and was a go-to advisor for family, friends, and neighbors whose myriad ailments and medical questions she always found time to answer in a reassuring, comforting manner.
Stella was devoted to her Catholic faith and served in numerous volunteer capacities, including director of the church folk choir.
She is survived by her sons, Charles (Lianne) of Medford, MA; Andrew (Cynthia) of Milton, MA and 5 grandchildren Rachel, Phie, Adam, Jason, and Lily. She is also survived by 2 of her 8 brothers, Andrew Sprehe and Samuel Sprehe; and many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Charlie, her parents, and 6 of her brothers, Paul, Daniel, Timothy, David, Christopher and Stephen Sprehe.
A memorial mass will be held Friday, July 24, at 10:00am at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 833 Magellan Drive Sarasota, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Stella’s name to the Sarasota Ballet.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, Florida, is in charge of arrangements.
