Stella M. Zemla

Stella M. (Bashline) Zemla, 84, of Natrona Heights, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 in UPMC St. Margaret Hospital, Pittsburgh. Stella was born on December 24, 1936 at home on the Laurel Run Farm near Goheenville in Armstrong County, PA, to parents Margaret L. (Butler) and Ross C. Bashline, while her older siblings were at Christmas Eve services. When her brother arrived home he was amazed to find that her eyes were open, as “kittens are born with their eyes shut.” Farm life included working hard in the fields, playing under the grape arbor, and riding her horse, Diamond. She attended grade school in a one-room school house, graduated from Dayton Joint High School in in Dayton, PA in 1955, and Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nursing with a degree in 1958. She worked at the Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights until the mid-1960’s when she started a family with her husband, Bill.
Stella was a loving mother. She married William Zemla in 1960, who she met on a blind date, and the couple had 3 children together, including Lisa, who died in infancy. Her “kids” also included a cat and two dogs.
In her younger years, she enjoyed canning vegetables grown in the family garden which were shared with the Westlawn neighbors (tomato juice and pickles were particular neighborhood favorites!). Stella was a volunteer driver for the Highlands Area Meals on Wheels in the 2000’s. She was a member of the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School for a brief time, as well as served on the Board of Deacons. In later years, she enjoyed sitting in the balcony and running the light board for church services. Stella loved to travel and had visited Hawaii, the Caribbean, Kenya, and the Amazon Rain Forest before her gradual loss of eyesight kept her home. She was an avid collector of Steelers memorabilia, even when she wasn’t too happy with the team’s performance on the playing field.
Stella is survived by her daughter, Tracy J. Zemla, of Natrona Heights; her son, Alan S. Zemla, of Baltimore, MD; her sister Diane Powell and husband Kenneth, of New Kensington; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William C. Zemla; her infant daughter, Lisa Zemla; her sister, Maxine Ferkan, of Dayton, PA; her brother Kenneth Bashline, of Sandusky, OH; and an infant brother, Donald Bashline.

Friends will be received on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle Street, Natrona Heights 724-224-8688. Officiating will be the Rev. R. Cameron Malcolm, IV. Entombment will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights. To send an online condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com. The family requests those that attend please wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be sent to the Highlands Area Meals on Wheels, Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, or your favorite charity.