Guglielmina "Mina" M. Stewart

July 29, 1922 – October 11, 2025

On Oct. 11, 2025 Mina Stewart, 103, peacefully passed into eternity at home, in the loving care of her daughter Renee.

Mina was born in Florence, Italy in 1922, to Alberto and Estella Piazzesi, the second of four children.  Her father Alberto was an architect and designed the family home. It included three apartments, for his and his two brothers' families, so Mina grew up with her cousins as well as sisters and brother.  She was an avid reader, sewed clothes for her dolls, and sometimes helped her father by filling in details on architectural drawings.  In 1936, when Mina was 14 years old, her family moved to Rome, where Alberto was overseeing a construction project.  Intended as a temporary move, the family was unable to return to Florence because of the outbreak of WWII, so remained in Rome permanently.

Mina studied to be a teacher, but because of the war could only find work as a secretary at a doctor's office and at the government office in charge of rationing.  When US troops entered Rome in 1944, her family met William "Jack" Stewart, who was a Bandsman/MP in the 88th Division and directing traffic in Rome.  They invited Jack for dinner to gain news of the war.  Mina had studied English so was able to talk with Jack.  They fell in love, and then wrote letters to each other after Jack was re-stationed to Germany and Austria, then returned home to Oklahoma.

Before the war had ended, Mina was in a car accident with her father.  While recuperating at a country hospital they learned how to play bridge together.  In 1948 Jack returned to Rome, and he and Mina were married at the Campidoglio.  They waited 6 months for Mina's immigration papers after the wedding.  Alberto and Mina taught Jack to play bridge.  Throughout their lives this was their favorite pastime.

Jack and Mina returned to Oklahoma, living in Oklahoma City, Norman and Duncan. Mina dealt with starting a family on minimal income in a strange country, with language and cultural barriers.  She was resourceful and economical.  She arrived not knowing how to cook at all and joked about burning a roast for dinner every Sunday.  Over time she became an excellent cook of both traditional American and Italian dishes.

In 1957 the family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Jack was director of the public library.  Mina raised their three children with a sense of fun balanced by practicality.  She imparted to them a love of mathematics, games and logic, art and music.  These values have been passed along to her children's, grandchildren's and great grandchildren's families.  While in Muskogee Mina attended Bacone College and graduated Valedictorian.  She excelled in English composition and art.

In 1969 the family moved to Lubbock, Texas.  Jack was director of the public library and Mina was an active member of Friends of the Library, as well as the Great Books club.  Mina played in multiple bridge clubs, including a couples club with Jack.  Mina also hosted foreign students at Texas Tech.  She and Jack enjoyed classical music concerts at Tech and many performances at Santa Fe Opera.

In 2011 Jack and Mina moved to Indianapolis to live with their daughter Renee and her husband Randy.  Mina remained with them until her death at age 103.  Each July her family gathered to celebrate her birthday with her.  She was able to enjoy not only her grandchildren, but her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren as well.

Mina was preceded in death by her husband William Stewart; parents Alberto and Estella Piazzesi, and siblings Annita Piazzesi, Luciana Piazzesi Perraymond, and Attilio Piazzesi.  Survivors include her children William (Lorie) Stewart III, Renee (Randy) Stewart Cole, Silvia (Tom) Stewart Gederberg; 9 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 am to 12 pm Fri. Oct. 17 at Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg, with funeral services there at 12 pm.  Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.