Stella McGuire, (1947 - 2017) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials

Shall I mourn your decline with some Thunderbird wine? [Sweet Gene Vincent, Ian Dury]

70 years old
Born on May 7, 1947
Passed away on July 1, 2017

In memory of the inimitable Stella McGuire.

If you have photos of Stella--in places she loved, with friends and family--please share them here. You can also share comments about the photos, or write below, if you would like to.

...

Memorial

Monday 24th July
1.15pm

Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium
Sheffield S8 0HN

Wake

Monday 24th July
2.30pm onwards

Millstone Inn
Sheffield Road, Hathersage, S32 1DA

...

Donations in Stella's honor

Despite her love of them, mum asked that you not send flowers to the funeral and instead consider a donation to one of her favorite organizations:

ASSIST Sheffield: Helping destitute asylum seekers by providing accommodation, advice and other support to those in most need or distress.

Cheques payable to ASSIST Sheffield, Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Norfolk St, Sheffield S1 2JB. [Or Donate here.]

Medecins Sans Frontieres: Medical Aid where its needed most.

Cheques payable to MSF UK, Lower Ground Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London, EC4A. [Or Donate here.]

Tributes

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May 7

We saw a Woodchat Shrike in the garden last month - I'd never seen one before. I wanted to tell you about it as I knew you'd be interested. It's sad when there is no one to share the things you love with. Its Turkish name is much more exciting - it translates as the red-headed spider bird - you'd have liked that too. Miss you.

Love Julia

July 4, 2022

Hello Stella,
I have been thinking about you a lot this month, and miss your gentle support. You use to often turn up at my work events, however eccentric and always made them feel so much better. You continue to inspire me and i wish you were here.

July 1, 2022

5 years to the day, Stella. You'd be pleased to know that the obituary writing team is gathering again on Sunday for our annual Stella walk. We all miss you and it's good to have people to share grand memories with. Doubtless, we'll gather at Cintras afterwards and raise a cup of tea and a cake in your honour. Wish you could join us! Grammarly is telling me I need to put a comma in before the 'and' but you were someone who could have told them we don't need Oxford commas here - another reason to miss you.

May 7, 2021

1987, Stella and I sat in the sun outside a polling station in Doncaster sharing a cake because it was her birthday. It was a lovely day. I have many happy memories of the madness and excitement of polling days, rushing back to the committee rooms with full pads for top ups and snacks, and the final evening push of 'knocking out'. Stella always quietly in control.
And the next night we went to Bob Hanson's send off at the Trades and Labour Club, tickets only. I went with Stella and John, we frequently spent Friday evenings together, usually in the Masons Arms. But I went home that evening with Pete, now my husband!

July 1, 2020

Love to Matt and Michael and their families today with fond memories of the past.

May 7, 2020

I visited today because this was your birthday. You just about made it to 70 but not the happiest of days having been rushed to hospital the day before supposedly with sepsis. They never really did seem to be able to pin down exactly what was up, despite trying so hard.

It's May 2020 now - 7 weeks into lockdown. I'm so glad you weren't ill through this. So many lovely friends came to visit you so often: it made things so much more bearable. There were great conversations. I try not to think about how people in similar circumstances are trying to cope now.

It's a beautiful day here today - Derbyshire's National Park that you fought so hard to preserve and sustain is looking its magnificent best, your garden too. We miss you.

July 1, 2019

Another grand obituary writers' walk this weekend (though not limited to those of us who struggled to get the Guardian to pay tribute to one if its greatest supporters). A very hot day - not exactly typical of Hathersage - but the shaded walk along the river from Grindleford was lovely as ever. Stella would have approved. I guess next year it will be on Sat 27th or Sun 28th June. Let me know if you'd like to join us.

May 7, 2019

The wild flowers are wonderful here this spring - so many things that I would have shared with Stella.

December 26, 2018

Thinking of Stella's family and friends this festive holiday and am raising a glass to her and you all. Arboreal porcupines - wow!

December 25, 2018

Something drew me here this morning, Christmas Day ... looking through the photos, remembering the family ones that were in Stella's house. And then the blue chicken, which I gave her as a birthday present, brought tears to my eyes. Happy/sad memories!
Happy Christmas to Julia, Matt and Mick and the grandchildren, with love.

July 2, 2018

Whenever I'm walking in the Peak District and I see something which needs repairing or something which needs doing, I think to myself, or say to the person I'm with, Oh Stella would have sorted that."

May 7, 2018

Edna, Helen and Julia - its lovely to see your comments here on mum’s birthday. It has been both painful and joyful to think about her throughout the day. I was up in the mountains this weekend and, as you said Julia, in my mind, I cannot separate her from the hills and flowers. We saw a big fat porcupine up a tree; she would have *loved* that.

May 7, 2018

Sometimes I'm taken unawares with memories of Stella - generally when I hear laughter or am passing a Derbyshire landmark. We celebrated one of her birthdays (?2004) with cake and pop at the Lancs and Derbyshire Gliding Club dig. As I recall, it was sunny and funny.

May 7, 2018

John and Stella shared the same birthday and he is 85 today. On some of those days we celebrated a birthday lunch together. Good memories of the many enjoyable times we had.

September 28, 2017

I knew Stella through CND and the Labour Party when I lived in Doncaster.
I remember a CND meeting when an East German, ahem, diplomat came to talk to us. He appeared, apparently, at 9am outside her front door in Hexthorpe waving a bottle of Scotch!
After the meeting, in the Mason's Arms, much amusment was provided by his poking fun at the Russians and asking us to explain what a "bang ger head" was.
We moved away from Doncaster in 1993 and lost touch but I still feel sad the she is no longer with us. She was a good woman and will be much missed.

July 24, 2017

We always remember the nice time we spent with Stella. Anita and Josef

July 7, 2017

Something tells me SBM would not have approved of you Lighting A Virtual Candle, or Laying a Virtual Flower... but mum would have loved the Notes!!

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Recent Tributes

May 7

July 4, 2022

July 1, 2022

View all 17 tributes

Gallery

I thought I should post a pic of SBM — who enjoyed Xmas more than anyone I’ve ever met. ♥️ yeh mum.

Christmas 2018 in the Catskills with Matt & Mick and your grandchildren. You would have loved it.

Stella's birthday 2006 - on our garden wall - when Ozkan and I had just bought our house in Gokseki, Turkey. I think about you Stella everyday, and so want to talk to you about the flowers, the birds, the trees and all the things and people that you loved

The article Stella wrote for the Guardian under a pseudonym when she was an emergency planner.

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Processing Medievial pottery at Conisbrough Castle.

July 24, 2017

I cant remember when i first met Stella, i think during my MA when i was first getting involved in Sheffield's heritage community. She was always very kind and supportive,understanding and encouraging, and joined in with several of my projects. She was an inspiration and im so pleased i met her and knew her even if just a litte bit.

Camphill 2009

July 19, 2017

Stella at the heart of conversation at the Gliding Club

Stanage Edge...

July 19, 2017

Inspirational Stella with students from Sheffield University. Always good to have her by my side..