Stephen  J.  Stella – 70, of North Reading and formerly of Andover, died Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Lawrence, MA on December 16, 1946 he was the son of the late Salvatore and Rose (Catanzaro) Stella. Steve was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1966.

He was a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran. He served from 1967 to 1969 and he received 5 Bronze Stars.

Steve worked for many years as a dispatcher for Lynch Materials (formerly Heffron Materials) in Wilmington. He was a resident of North Reading for the past 62 years. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in North Reading, the VFW and DAV.

He was a true friend to many who knew him. He loved golf, gardening and taking Sam to the Park.

Family members include his loving wife of 40 years, Wendy (Wilson) Stella; his brother, Gerald Stella of Georgia; his brother and sister-in-law, Cliff and Lynn Wilson of Rowley;  3 nieces, Jennifer Chavez of Swampscott, Bethany Duggan of Haverhill and Kristina Perez of Georgia;  a nephew, Jeffrey Wilson of Rowley; 3 great nieces and 4 great nephews.

His Funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, May 12 at 10 AM. Calling hours will be on Thursday, May 11 from 4 to 7 PM. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com