Ann Stefaniuk's Obituary
Ann Stefaniuk (née Dietrich), affectionately known as Anni, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026 in Parma, Ohio surrounded by her five children filled with love and gratitude. She was 91 years old. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend.
Ann was born on March 27, 1935 as the 4th of 5 children to Maria and Fritz Dietrich in Hildesheim, Germany. She was just in elementary school as WWII broke out and had endured the angst of hiding in bomb shelters, waiting in bread lines, and the uncertainty of what the future would hold. Growing up in Germany during the difficult years of World War II and its aftermath helped shape the resilience and strength of character that would define her throughout her life.
Ann’s experiences growing up were broad. She interned as a secretary at Blaupunkt, a German Electronics company known for making the first car radio. She also became a shoe model and salesperson, saving up a month's wages to buy a cherished pair of Italian leather high heels that she had her eye on. Ann loved being a part of the catholic youth group, singing in the choir, doing gymnastics, going on bike trips, hiking, sailing, and skiing. Ann was adventurous and loved life. As a young woman, she spent a year in Switzerland with the Mueller family learning how to entertain, cook, bake, and run a household. She spent another year in England working as an au pair for a Jewish family with a young daughter, broadening her horizons, learning English and developing the skills and adventurous spirit that would later lead her across the Atlantic.
At the age of 26, she followed in her two older brothers' footsteps who had gone to the United States and settled in the Cleveland area. While working as a dental assistant and living with her brother Werner in Lakewood, Ohio, she met John Stefaniuk at the German Central Club in Parma. The two were married in 1963 and began a life together centered on faith and family.
After first living in Brooklyn, Ohio, Ann and John built a home in Parma in 1970. There they raised their five children and created a home filled with love, faith, learning, music, and activity. As her children grew older, Ann returned to the workforce, spending many years working as a part-time Salesperson at Dillard's in Parmatown Mall. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet people, help customers, and contribute to her community, and she took pride in a job she performed with dedication and excellence.
Ann was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker who poured herself into her family. She provided her children with a rich childhood filled with sports, music, learning, and opportunities to grow. She believed deeply in the importance of living a Christian and moral life and instilled those values in her children through weekly church attendance, family Bible study, countless words of wisdom—often German sayings and proverbs she had learned from her mother—and, above all, the example of her own life.
Ann had a special love for children. She had a gift for entertaining them with rhymes, games, and songs, making them laugh while helping them learn. She was generous with her time and affection, often caring for neighborhood children, feeding them, engaging them in activities, driving them, and educating them. Children were naturally drawn to her warmth, kindness, and playful spirit.
Ann also had a lifelong love of music and was often heard singing songs she had learned as a child in Germany. She enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends and took great pleasure in bringing people together around the table. Her home was a place of welcome and hospitality, where visitors ate well and family gatherings were filled with laughter, conversation, and the comforting presence that made Ann so special.
Ann was known for her good nature and sense of humor. She was quick to find humor in a situation, even in difficult circumstances, and had a gift for helping others see the lighter, and absurd, side of life. Whether sharing a funny story, a playful remark, or simply enjoying the humor in everyday situations, she brought joy to those around her and made life's burdens a little easier to bear.
Ann also enjoyed traveling throughout her life. During her children's younger years, she took them to Germany on several occasions to visit family and maintain ties to her homeland. Later in life, she continued to return to Germany, visiting Andrea and Thomas who were living there and traveling with her husband, John, with whom she enjoyed long bicycle rides alongside friends. Together, Ann and John also enjoyed an Alaskan cruise and trips to Cancún, Mexico. She also cherished the opportunity to visit Rome, Italy, with her son John.
Ann was deeply devoted to Jesus and living out her faith for Him. Her faith in God was the foundation of her life and the inspiration for all she did. Through times of joy and times of hardship, she would turn to Jesus in prayer, relying on His grace, strength, love, and wisdom. She remained steadfast in her trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance. She felt her purpose in life was to praise, serve and honor God.
Those who knew her will remember her spirited, kind, and loving nature, her playfulness, her sense of humor, her cheerful attitude, her wisdom, her humility, and her unwavering commitment to God and her family. In her final days, the devotion and care shown by her children reflected the love, faith, and selflessness she had spent a lifetime instilling in her family.
Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John; her parents, Fritz and Maria Dietrich; her brothers, Heinz Dietrich, Franz Dietrich, and Werner Dietrich; and her sister, Irma Dietrich. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
She is survived by her children, Roman, Gregory, John (Ruth), Thomas (Kate), and Andrea; her grandchildren, Sebastian, Alexander, Sabine, Isaiah, Gabriel, Noelle, and Boaz; and her many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who will cherish her memory.
Visitation on Monday June 15, 2026 from 5pm to 8pm at Yurch Funeral Home, 5618 Broadview Rd. Parma, OH 44134. Funeral Service at 7pm. Graveside Service on Tuesday June 16 at 11am at Riverside Cemetery.
While her family grieves her absence, they take comfort in knowing that her earthly journey is complete, that her mind and body are free, that she has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior, and that they will be reunited with her in heaven. Her legacy lives on in the faith she shared, the family she nurtured, and the countless lives she touched with love.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." — Colossians 3:23-24
"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:23
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