Southbridge: David J. "Poppy" "Bubba" Stella, Sr., 79, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Nov. 29 ^th , after a long illness.

He leaves his loving wife of 55 years, Sandra J. (Haskins) Stella; his three children, Steven Stella and his wife Marilyn of Southbridge, Kimberly Wirtanen and her husband Robert of Leicester and Michele Rusch and her husband Bryan of Baldwinville; and his four grandchildren, Sarah Rusch, Benjamin Rusch, Megan Stella and Cameron Stella.  He was predeceased by his sons, Richard Stella in 1964 and David J. Stella, Jr. in 2008.  He was born in Pittsfield on Aug. 27, 1941 the son of Joseph J. and Genevieve M. (Turner) Stella.  He was a 1959 graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Pittsfield and went on to study accounting at Berkshire Community College.

After his graduation in 1961, David went to work at City Savings Bank in Pittsfield as an IT programmer and later worked at the 1 ^st Agricultural Bank in Pittsfield as a Data Processing Manager before moving to Southbridge in 1976.  David then went on to work at Multibank as an Electronic Conversion Manager and later worked at Anacomp Micrographics as a Data Center Manager for 20 years.  He then took a position as a Senior Sales Executive with Image Data until his retirement in 2019.  He was a long standing member and former President of the Tri-Community Exchange Club.  David was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Cohasse Country Club in Southbridge.

His funeral service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 ^th from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a graveside service at 10:00am in the New Notre Dame Cemetery, 746 N. Woodstock Rd., Southbridge.  Calling hours in the funeral home will be held on Friday, Dec. 4 ^th , from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Second Chance Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 136, East Brookfield, MA 01515 or to the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike
Shrewsbury, MA 01545.