Jacque Daphyne Starr Stefancik, age 86, of Greenville, TX passed away Monday, November 9th at Legend Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Greenville, a victim of the Covid pandemic. Daphyne was born on January 1st, 1934; the first baby of the year in Young County and the second and last child of Homer and Florence Starr.
After graduating from high school in Breckenridge, TX, Daphyne moved to Corpus Christi with her sister and was working as a secretary when she met the love of her life in 1952, just as he was joining the Navy. Following his discharge, she married Rudy Thomas Stefancik on November 27, 1954 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Breckenridge, TX.
Soon she was caring for babies while typing her husband’s college essays and after his graduation, his work as an electrical engineer took them from Houston to California, El Paso, TX, Greenville, Alabama, Deer Park, TX, and back to Greenville. Daphyne stayed at home to care for her household and four children. A devout member of St. Williams Catholic Church, she served on the Ladies Altar Guild and attended bible study as long as her health allowed. She was also actively involved in the Knights of Columbus through her husband, Rudy, attending many functions and baking cakes for Friday Night Dinners. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family, reading, playing games, worrying, and watching TV game shows. She will be missed by many.
Daphyne was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a doting grandmother. She is survived by her four children: sons Rudy Wallis Stefancik (wife Sue), Robert Michael Stefancik (wife Mary Ann), Gary Kevin Stefancik (wife Brenda); daughter Sherilyn Jan Fox (husband Corey); seven grandchildren (John Robert Stefancik, Sara Stefancik, Hannah Stefancik, Rachel Stefancik, Peter Stefancik, Abigail Stefancik, Nadia Fox); two brothers-in-law Steve Stefancik (Slidell, LA), Frank Stefancik (Linton, IN); two sisters-in-law Dorothy Duncan (Mid West City, OK), Veronica Weaver (Mooresburg, TN), and 27 nieces and nephews.
Her parents, (Homer E. Starr and Florence Starr Eisenhuth) her stepfather (Robert Eisenhuth), her sister and brother-in-law (Bobbie and Warren Beene), three brothers-in-law (John Stefancik, Alfred Stefancik, Tom Stefancik), three sisters-in-law (Mary Hasara, Juliana Stefancik, Theresa Rose Frabutt), and her niece (Theresa Ann Hasara), preceded her in death.
Due to the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control, the family has regretfully decided to indefinitely postpone her funeral arrangements. They will be held at a future date in conjunction with those of her husband of 65 years who passed in March.
