Stephanie Ann Emilio Tribute

Thank you Stephanie for the way you brightened our lives,  in some way or another you touched each and every one of us.

Stephanie was taken at the young age of 51, our time with her was too short, yet we must learn to be grateful that she came into our lives.

Stephanie was my friend for almost 30 years – we met when I went into Benton Plating which was owned by the Emilio Family in Ontario, for a job interview and she hired me on the spot, we clicked and became close friends, we worked together 5 days a week and had breakfast and lunch in the office everyday, she taught me how to interact with my bosses and the clients. Stephanie and I we were both working single mothers – Stephanie had two girls and I had three boys. Stephanie soon married Michael Emilio, the boss’s son and I married Pablo Jauregui.

Pablo and I had such great respect for Stephanie and Mike that we asked them to baptize our daughter Michelle, which made us family – “Compadres” Our families are the heart of our existence and along the way we suffered tragedy and loss. Stephanie lost her daughter Monisa Lynn, her father Fred Solano and father-in-law Bob Emilio, and I lost my husband Pablo and my son Manuel.  Stephanie and I were there for each other, to cry with, lean on, talk to, vent with  - which made us even closer, she told me I was the sister she never had.

We shared the joys of our children getting married and the anticipation, excitement and love of our grandchildren. We had wonderful times, laughing, talking, texting  and I would often go to visit and we would just hang out watching TV, drinking our beer. She would make me breakfast, we would go out for lunch and Mike would make dinner. Even if we did not speak every day or live close by, we were always able to pick up right where we left off, this is what people mean when they say they are friends.