Stella M. Merli

Stella Marie Merli, (nee Blasioli), 94, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2023 in her home in Ellisville, Missouri due to Covid complications. Stella was born on July 21,1928 in Alton, IL to her parents John and Ginnie (Totora) Blasioli, who preceded her in death. She attended Alton Senior High School and graduated in 1945. She married Daniel Merli, Sr. on October 3, 1953, and they were married for 35 years and had five children together. Stella loved to play cards and Rummikub. She also enjoyed bingo, arts and crafts, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. She was as outgoing as she was beautiful. She is survived by her five children, Kathi Spears of Ellisville, MO; Donna (Eric) Ripp of Wildwood, MO; Daniel (Fiance, Marsha) of Bethalto, IL; Dennis (Michelle) of Rosewood Heights, IL; and Jenny (Dave) Dawson of Fenton, MO. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Chris (Angie) Norris; Jeremy (Leslie) Street; Amber (Philip) Fleming; Danielle (Daniel) Moradi; Stephanie (Jeremy) Squire; Dakota Chappell; Jacob (Fiance, Maddy) Ripp; Evan Merli; Deidre Merli; Brandon Pritchett; Joshua (Emily) Ripp and her ten great-grandchildren, who all affectionately called her “Gigi”, with two more expected this year. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marsha Blasioli, many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly, her former daughters-in-law, Lori Merli and Debbie Merli, and former son-in-law, Jeff Quinn, along with her many friends, especially those at Gambrill Gardens who referred to her as “a ray of sunshine.” Besides her parents and former husband, Stella was preceded in death by her three sisters and three brothers-in-law, Carrie (Ed) Hendrickson; Josephine “Jitter” (James) Sumpter, Anna (Wallace) Lawson and her two brothers and sister-in-law, Daniel Blasioli, and Joseph (Jean) Blasioli, and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jill and Ed Fox. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or Breast Cancer Research Foundation at www.bcrf.org Visitation on Monday, January 9, 2023 from 10:00am-1:00pm at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home Fenton Chapel 777 Oakwood Dr. Fenton, MO 63026 Funeral Service at 1:00pm with interment to follow at St. Vincent Cemetery 1488 Romaine Creek Rd. Fenton, MO 63026

Stella M. Merli

July 21, 1928 - January 3, 2023