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Stella Violet Johnson Kilbourne, 83, a longtime resident of Albuquerque, NM, died Thursday March 15, 2007. She was a loving and dedicated mother and is survived by daughter, Becky Kilbourne and husband, James Jaska of Arcadia, CA; daughter, Ginger Kilbourne Lagasse and husband, Robert, of Angel Fire, NM, and Cindy Kilbourne Welsh of Gainesville, FL. Stella Kilbourne was born on May 3, 1923 in Itasca Township in Minnesota and was one of seven offspring to Arthur and Bessie Johnson, survived by one remaining sister and countless nieces, nephews and their children. Upon taking an oath to leave Minnesota winters behind, she and a roommate bought a hearse and set out on a adventurous trip cross country from Minnesota to California in the early 1950s. She was sidetracked in Albuquerque where she met and later married the late Honorable H. Wells Kilbourne originally from New Britain, CT. They made their home in Albuquerque for 23 years until Judge Kilbourne passed away in 1975. Stella had many interests including gardening, sewing, and tending to her precious Chihuahua, Cocoa. Her real love was art and she was particularly talented in oil painting and ceramics. She taught ceramics at the Palo Duro Senior Citizens' Center for many years until she lost her eyesight to macular degeneration. She will be missed dearly by her family and friends who so enjoyed her robust spirit and keen sense of humor. Memorial Services will be held for Stella on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 10:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the N.M. Commission for the Blind, 2200 Yale Blvd. SE, 87106. French Mortuary Wyoming Blvd. Chapel 505-823-9400
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