Nina Sternhagen

01/28/1914 – 11/17/2012
Nina J. Sternhagen, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother passed away peacefully on Saturday the 17th of November. She was born in Caltrano, Italy, on January 28, 1914 to Joseph and Theresa Sandona. She came with her mother to Bellingham via Ellis Island in 1919 to join her father who had moved to the U.S. four years before them. She went to Assumption School, Roeder, and graduated from Whatcom High School. Nina attended Business College and worked for the local radio station, the County Auditor’s office, The Normal School (WWU), and Wilson’s Florist. She married John G. Sternhagen in 1941 and helped him run the family business, Sternhagen’s Grocery, for over 27 years. They retired to their home on Lake Whatcom in 1967. She was preceded in death by Tara’s twin brother Tyson. She is survived by her husband John, daughter, JoAn Siden (David) and son, Robert Sternhagen (Sandee), four grandchildren, Tracie Annestad, Tamera Labelle (David), Robert Swope (Rayna) and Rieker Sternhagen (Melissa), eight great- grandchildren, Dominic Swope, Tara Ortiz, Tyler Labelle, Tenley, Regan, and Lucas Swope and Lincoln and Gavin Sternhagen, four great-great-grandchildren, Gilbert and Taelin Ortiz, Cooper and Lilli Swope, her loving sister Irene Ryan, and many relatives and friends. Nina was a member of Church of the Assumption for 93 years and was active in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for over 50 years. We want to thank all of her wonderful care givers at Mt. Baker Care Center, especially her loving granddaughter Tara who was her “special angel” there. We will always love you, and miss you. Memorials may be made to Hope House at Church of the Assumption. A Vigil Service will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Sunday, November 25th at 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Church of the Assumption at 10:30 AM on Monday, November 26th. A reception will follow at the Church.