Sarah DeStefano Obituary

Sarah Elizabeth DeStefano FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Sarah Elizabeth DeStefano, 96, wife of the late Master Chief Petty Officer (E9), Navy, Joseph A. DeStefano, and the daughter of the late Lurlie Brinson Williams of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She was a mother to four daughters and one son. Sarah was born in Halfway Creek, SC, as her son later stated: "known for its strong swamp women". She raised five children mostly independently while her husband served in the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal for over 30 years. He was deployed for practically their entire married life. Despite the challenges, Sarah instilled in all her children the importance of education. Her children obtained bachelor's, master's, and even a medical degree, which she said was a huge accomplishment. Sarah was a woman of many talents and gifts. She was skilled at sewing, making prom dresses for her daughters, and crafting wedding veils for each of them. She could also upholster furniture, make drapes, and bedspreads, and decorate rooms that could be featured in Better Homes and Gardens. One of her daughters always said, "No one can make a bed or clean a home like Mom." Sarah was also adept at managing a tight household budget, preparing healthy and delicious meals from scratch, and ensuring that her children went on vacation every August to broaden their horizons. Sarah was the last of her four siblings. She is survived by 10 grandchildren whom she dearly loved, as well as 5 great-grandchildren. Sarah will be remembered by numerous nieces and nephews who fondly knew her as Aunt Lib. Her funeral service will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024, in the Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road, at 9:00 am. A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.