Stella Octavia Mckinnis

Stella Octavia Cardilli McKinnis passed away on June 10th, 2024, in Temple, TX. She was the sole remaining daughter of immigrants Joseph H. Cardilli (Italy) and Octavia de la Garza Cardilli (Mexico). She was 86 years old at the time of her death. Stella was a beautiful and compassionate woman of extraordinary talent, exceptionally high intellect, and an ardent animal lover, particularly dogs. Stella grew up in Laredo, TX. She graduated from Martin High School at the age of 15 and daringly eloped at the age of 16 to marry Frank H. McKinnis. They had been married 70 years.

Stella was a loving and supportive wife, mother, and daughter during the earlier years of marriage. As her family matured, she went to work for the 49th District Court as an official court interpreter. She later became Official Court Interpreter for Webb, Dimmitt, and Zapata counties.

In the early 70’s, Stella decided to fulfill her dream of attending college and pursuing her degree. Much to the surprise of many, Stella received her bachelor's degree in 2 1/2 years with a solid 4.0 GPA (Summa Cum Laude) with a double major in psychology and sociology. She then proceeded to pursue her master’s degree receiving it in a year's time, again with a 4.0 GPA in Guidance and Counseling. She honed her skills and research of the demographics of her environment to not only identify significant socioeconomic problems but was fully prepared to help solve them by becoming the first female in Webb County to run for County Commissioner Precinct #4 in the 1970s. While all the 76 other candidates on the ballot were men, it seems the determination to defeat her and try to keep her down was alive and well because five other men had to run against her to steal the election. Incidentally, Stella was the only woman on the ballot in Webb County in May of 1978 out of a total of 77 candidates from all positions county and statewide up for election that year. They successfully defeated her in 1978.

However, Stella was not to be discouraged because the exposure she received during her political campaign was the steppingstone to her becoming Community Service Director for Laredo Junior College. It was one of her missions to bring to the forefront the value of the working female to the City of Laredo. She instituted and chaired many an event in the city that would broadcast the attributes of The Women in Transition and their contributions to all professional fields. No doubt her professional and political influence in Laredo paved the way for the success of many women today in South Texas.

Stella later relocated to Houston temporarily to run and manage her sister's business interests for several years. During those years, Stella started a rescue sanctuary for stray dogs, eventually saving up to 100 dogs. The last one of those dogs passed away last year at the age of 25. She was passionate about saving them. When the decision was made to liquidate, Stella then moved back to be closer to her nuclear family, her husband, son, and daughter. It was determined years later that Stella had developed dementia. And while this awful condition was a major contributor to her passing, Stella was a firm believer in two things: (1) Complete faith in Jesus Christ is what gets a person through life and (2) Mind over Matter.  She never gave up the fight of using her mind to battle the insidiousness of Alzheimer’s Disease.  To the end, she held on to vestiges of comprehension and understanding.  She was a woman with a strong mental constitution and demonstrated this attribute all her life.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph H. (Giuseppe E. Cardillo), Cardilli and Octavia N. de la Garza Cardilli; her sisters: Filomena Cardilli Veytia, Lucy Cardilli Elliott of Cleburne, Josephine Cardilli Barton of Southern California, Mary Cardilli Mallien of St. Louis, Mo., and Letizia C. Cardilli Shannon of Houston; her in-laws, Frank and Maria de Jesus McKinnis.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Frank H. McKinnis; her children, Frank H. McKinnis, III ( Joyce) and Nora Lyn McKinnis Nichols; her grandchildren: Alexandra A. McKinnis Giovannoli (Drew), Jaden T. McKinnis, Cambridge K.O. Nichols (Lauren), Charles S. (Sonny) Nichols, III, and Sutherlyn F.J. Nichols; her great-grandchildren: Elouise E. Giovannoli and Hugo W. Giovannoli; her brother in law, Joseph L. McKinnis (Brenda). Many cousins, nieces and nephews survive her as well.

Plans for a celebration of Stella’s life are pending and will be held at a later date.