Obituary of Louisa B. Stewart

Deland, FL./CANISTEO: Louisa Brown Stewart, widow of Otto J. Stewart, died at the Halifax Health Hospice at Port Orange, FL. on March 5, 2017, at the age of 103.

Louisa was born on November 12, 1913 in Savona, New York, the eldest daughter of Lloyd and Euna Coots Brown and was married to Otto J. Stewart on June 24, 1933. She was a teacher and speech therapist as well as a homemaker, wife and mother.

She was married for over 63 years to Otto J. Stewart until his death in 1996. He had a career in education in New York State as a teacher, principal, and official in the State Education Department, ending his career in 1968 as the District Superintendent of Schools in Niagara and Orleans counties and the Chief of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). In 1968, he retired and he and Louisa moved to Deland, Florida. There they both joined Trinity United Methodist Church. Louisa taught adult Sunday School classes, was President of the Friendship class, and was a past president of United Methodist women. She was a long-time member and reservation chairperson of Schoolmaster’s Club beginning in 1969. She volunteered at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Center for many years beginning in 1997 when she moved to the Center after the death of her husband. She continued to serve as a volunteer, reading to the elderly, assisting in religious services, and serving in the library even after her 100th birthday.

She was a kind and gracious lady until the end and will be sorely missed by family and friends.

In addition to her husband she was predeceased by two brothers: Carlton and Ernest Brown and two grandchildren: Alan and Karen Willis.

She is survived by one daughter: Carmen Stewart of Sebatian, FL. two sons: Robert (Patty) Stewart of Hornell and Richard (Lynn) Stewart of Burke, VA., four grandsons: Justin, Christopher, James and Conner along with two great grandsons: Ryan and Colton, and their mother, Justin’s wife, the former Allison Hutcheson. Louisa is also survived by Justin and Christopher’s mother Merrilee Stewart, a sister: Ercil Stevens, three nieces, Carol Stevens, Bonnie Bryant and June Perry, a nephew: Everett Brown, two step-granddaughters: Angela (Josh) Delany and Andrea Zanghi (Chad Giglio), and 7 step- great grandchildren: Austin, Alyssa, Natalie, Brennan, Nolan, Madeline and Franco.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside service Monday, June 5, 2017, at 2:00 pm in Woodlawn Cemetery in Canisteo.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to either the Employee’s Appreciation Fund of the Good Samaritan Society—Florida Lutheran, 450 N. McDonald Ave., Deland, FL 32724 or to Halifax Health Hospice, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL. 32129.