Greta Mae Lindquist Stefanich, age 91, passed away on June 11, 2024, in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Greta was born on May 24, 1933, in Pine City, Minnesota. She was the youngest child of Allen Lindquist and Ruth (Scofield) Lindquist. She was educated in the Pine City Public Schools. After graduating high school, she moved to the Twin Cities to work. While working at First National Bank in Minneapolis, she met her husband, Louis Martin Stefanich. They married in Pine City on July 31, 1954 and began their life together on the Iron Range in Babbitt, Minnesota. After moving to Babbitt, she interviewed for a job but was told by the interviewer that, as a young married woman, she should go home and have babies. That she did, eventually giving birth to seven children.
After 15 months in Babbitt, she and Louis moved to Silver Bay. It is here that Greta lived her life as a dedicated wife and mother. After the children were grown, she and Louie moved to New Brighton, Minnesota to be closer to them. In 2019, Greta returned to Silver Bay, moving to Carefree Living where she remained until her death.
Greta had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed playing the piano. She spent many nights soothing her children to sleep with beautiful songs. She was also a very good baker, with an especially delicious banana bread and a yummy Slovenian potica. It was these baked goods and salads that allowed her to share her love and compassion with many people. She once had a dream about her old, scuffed up golden serving bowl. In her dream, she was with many women at church and the bowl began to shine a radiant gold. She suddenly had an urge to speak. She told these women how the bowl had been taken to so many funerals, weddings, graduations, potlucks, picnics, and by neighbors and friends who were grieving or celebrating. It had been to so many places, always filled with love. That was one of Greta’s secrets, doing small things with great love.
She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Silver Bay. She taught CCD classes, sang in the choir, was on the funeral committee, a lector and church secretary for nine years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, four siblings, father and mother-in-law, three brothers in-law and one sister in-law.
She is survived by her seven children: Rebecca Orvik, Mary Hoffman, Susan Stefanich (Mark Roubinek), Timothy Stefanich (Pamela), Louis W. Stefanich (Monica Kocourek), Ruth Zouzouambe (Yves), and Matthew Stefanich (Dawn); grandchildren: Clay, Greg, Garrett, Megan (Willy), Daniel, Miranda, Alex, Stephane, Marcel, Zachary, Owen and Samuel; brother in law Jerome (Janice) Stefanich, sister in law Joyce Lindquist and many nieces and nephews.
Her children would like to thank the staff of Carefree Living in Silver Bay and Essentia Health Hospice. Their kindness, love and generosity went above and beyond.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 57 Horn Blvd, Silver Bay. Private Interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Tower, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred. Condolences may be sent to: Mary Hoffman, 40 Arthur Circle, Silver Bay, MN 55614. To share a memory or leave an online condolence, visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.
