Stella Marie (Park) Schwartz brightened the world with her light, a ready source of warmth and cheer to all who knew her. Strong, compassionate, witty, and wise, she was the center of attention who drew others into the spotlight of her love. Stella passed away from pneumonia on September 18, 2025, at the age of 87. 

Stella was born on February 23, 1938, outside of Skiatook, OK, to Earl Wesley Park and Verlie May (Moore) Park. She was the fourth of six children, in between older sister and brothers Georgann, Earl, and Ben, and younger sisters Jane and Sarah.  Stella grew up on the family farm outside of Skiatook. After graduating from Skiatook High School, she moved to Tulsa, where she graduated from Draughon’s Business School. In 1965, she married her husband of 50 years, Robert Eugene Schwartz.

Although Stella made Tulsa her home, she always carried Skiatook in her heart. She was proud of her rural roots and of being an enrolled member of the Osage Nation.  She loved riding horses, and appreciated the natural world, from the majesty of prairie and mountain to the everyday charm of a squirrel stopping by her porch during her morning coffee. Stella enjoyed both the finer things and the ordinary pleasures of life. She took people as she found them, encouraging others to be themselves, wanting to know how they were doing, and taking the time to listen. She helped her friends and family and did her best for her community simply because she cared. Over the years, Stella volunteered for many groups and organizations, including Tulsa Public Schools, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, New Haven Methodist Church, Assistance League Tulsa, Skiatook Museum, and Trinity Woods. 

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Verlie Park; her husband, Robert Schwartz; her son, Walter Schwartz; and her siblings, Georgann Barton, Earl Park Jr., Ben Park, Jane Reynolds, and Sarah Vance. She is survived by her daughter Karola Schwartz and “bonus daughter” Michelle Schatz; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and a host of good friends. Stella genuinely made the world a better place. She will be dearly missed by all her friends and family, who are now cheered in their sorrow by the many happy memories she leaves.

Stella will lie in state 10-8pm, Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held 10:00am Wednesday at Captain Cemetery in Skiatook, with a memorial service following at 2:00pm at the New Haven United Methodist Church in Tulsa, 5603 S. New Haven Ave.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Tulsa Stella and Robert Schwartz Dean's Scholarship Endowment Fund for Mechanical Engineering.

Ninde Funeral & Cremation | (918) 742-5556 | ninde.com