- Welcome to Daley Life Celebration Studio, where we Celebrate the Color of Life.
Howard “Bud” Stellwag
rn Bud knew that we don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh. There was never a situation he couldn’t find the humor in. From the days he relentlessly played pranks on his sisters, to when he even had the uncanny ability to cheer up his teenage daughters, he always knew how to bring a smile. He proved that you can’t dislike someone who makes you laugh, especially considering he had so many friends despite being a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. When folks met Bud they usually liked him right away, and always came to know his personal philosophy. “The World according to Bud” was simple: Ford trucks, Budweiser beer and Winston cigarettes (before he kicked the habit). Never one for idle hands, he was often found doing woodworking projects. Everything from lamps to grandfather clocks adorn not only his home, but the homes of most of his family.rn While working for a company called Modern Packaging Bud earned more than a paycheck. It was here he met a woman named Betty (nee Weigand). Their 34 year marriage was blessed by their daughters: Sandy Thibault (Joe) of Edgewater Park and Beth Bates (Donald) of Roebling, and again by their grandchildren: Donnie, Jr., Elizabeth, Daniel and Richie. Bud is also survived by his mother Mildred of Lumberton, sisters Barbara Stellwag and Susan Horton, both of Lumberton and his brother Donald (Pat) of Hainesport. rn Come celebrate Bud’s 61 laughter filled years (August 26, 1949-May 3, 2011) Friday from 6-8 PM and Saturday from 9:30 AM at the Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside, where the service will be at 10:30. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Samaritan Hospice 300 Eves Dr., Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.rn
40 Comments
my dad was the best man any girl could grow up with, he never got mad even if you handed hima failed test paper he would just say do better next time and had the strength of ten men and would protect his “girls”come any cost he loved us girls as he called us he made me laugh for 33 years of my life and never made me cry except for now. some sad tears and some happy. he maybe gone but never ever forgotton. he always wanted a tape recorder with him when he passed to play sweeny lied im not dead, let me out its dark in here…he always found a way to make ya laugh. i have been his sam from the time i was born and i will always be his sam mom says it s the world according to “sam”now..like father like daughter wouldnt have it any other way..dad i love you and you will be missed but never forgotten i love you with all my heart.
Bud, I always looked up to you my big brother. You taught me so much from how to work on my truck to how to lay brick. I’ll always remember the great times spent on Saturdays working on cars at Dad’s and Joe’s house, having a few beers and laughing our butts off. Being tough old Stellwags we never said I love you enough. Bud I love you very much and miss you already. RIP pain free. Thank you for always being there for me.
Betty,rnPlease accept our heartfelt condolences. No words can really convey so much feeling or explain such loss. Find some comfort in knowing you are being thought of often and included in our prayers.rn—Kev—
Betty, Sandy please accept my condolences you are both in my prayers. I feel very lucky I got to know Bud as he was a very unique guy and will be missed.
Betty and Family,rnI didn’t know Bud but from talking to you over the years I know he was a great guy and how much you love him. I am thinking of you and keeping you and your family in prayer, stay close and comfort each other. rn
Betty and girls my heart goes out to you. I do remember Bud always laughing. I remember Bud offering to put in my new wall oven for me. So I went out and bought my new over. Bud came over started putting it in when he found out it didn’t fit. He said “who measured this oven”? I said “measured”I thought they were all the same size. He laughed and he made it fit.You will be greatly missed.
Dear Betty, Sandy and Beth,rn My heart goes out to you. This world has lost one of the best! Howie could make you laugh even if you didn’t want to. Please take one day at a time and stay close to each other. There is strength in numbers, and it will take the strength of all three of Bud’s “girls” to weather this storm. To know him was to love him and he will be greatly missed by all who had the priviledge of knowing him. rnrn
I send my deepest condolences to you and your family. If there is anything that I can do for you, please don?t hesitate to ask. We are all here for you. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. rnrnGod bless.rn
My love:rnrnI am at such a loss. It is a loss I will never recover from. Thank you for 34 years of being everything to me. You were my love, my friend, my strenght and my happinees. You’re still the one and we were having fun up to our last dance. You fought your illnesses with dignity and silence. You never complained. I hope that I brought you comfort these last three wwks. I am glad you are finally out of pain. Now my pain begins. I took a vows of for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part. We both honored our vows and now I must say goodby to my fovever love. We held hands until the end. Rest in peace knowing that I will always love you and that somehow your girls will be alright but never the same. All my love, now and forever.
rnBetty and Family:rnrnI realize that words are inadequate at this time of deep loss and sorrow, but please know that all of you are in our thoughts and our prayers. In the short time that I have worked with Betty,I know how much Bud meant to her and how deeply he will be missed. God Bless.
My dad, how do u sum him up in a few words?? you cant! but iam going to try. Since the time i could remember on saturdays i would go to granny’s with dad and uncle don and work on cars and do all the boy stuff and i treasure those memories. the hardest part of that fot me though is that my 4 children will not experience that for the 29 years i did. if i had a word to describe him it would be “awesome” because he was and will always remain that to me. We had some rocky times in my late teens and early twenenties but he never said a negative thing to me although iam sure he wanted too[ha,ha] i just hope for my children they will NEVER forget their Pop-pop Stellwag cause god knows i won’t. 61yrs is too young for him to go and it sucks but he knows i love him and that is all that matters to me.
I work with Bud’s wife Betty. I have never met Bud, but I do know that he was a very special person. I knew that he and Betty were very much in love, and that he meant the world to Betty just by the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of him. I know he will be missed. Betty, If there is ever anything I can do, or if you just need to talk, I am here for you. You are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you.
Betty,nnI’m saddened to hear about your loss. I wish that I could have known Bud.nnBarbara
Hi Betty and family, I am very sorry to hear of Bud’s passing. I did not know him, but from what I read above & how Betty spoke of him he sounded like a wonderful person! Always remember the good times as they will make you smile when you think of him. You all have my deepest sympathy.
Betty on behalf of my family and I please accept our condolences on your lost God bless you and your family.
Betty,rnPlease know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.rnTake comfort in the many wonderful years that the two of you spent together knowing that this is not good bye but a temporary sepertaion until the two of you are joined again.rnrnWith deepest sympathies,rnLinda rn
In Sympathy and praying for you on your loved loss
Uncle Bud will be missed greatly. From as long as I can remember, he would say “Shut up Heather” before I could even say anything. He always made me laugh. Even when he would tell me to get my chevy or nissan out of the drive way…he still made me laugh. When I think of Uncle Bud it puts a smile on my face and always will.
So sorry for your loss Betty, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If you need anything, you know where to find me – I am here for you.rnIn deepest sympanthyrnBarbara & family
So sorry for your loss Sandy. My heart felt sympathies to you and your family. nSorry I never got to meet your dad but i know he sure was a good father from all you’ve ever told me. nI hope you and your family find the peace that God gives in this time of sorrow. nnYour friend, Stewart
We are so sorry to hear of Mr. Stellwag’s passing. Our thoughts are with you in this time of mourning.
So Sorry to hear of the Loss of Bud Stellway. I worked with Bud at Modern Packaging. He cared about people who worked under him. My Deepest Heartfelt Sympathy to his wife, Children, Grandchilren and family and friends. Thoughts and Prayers are with you
John I had many good talks with Bud…always a pleasure to be with.He’ll be with good friends up above.God bless
My cousin Bud alot of fun like his Dad my uncle Bud.rnRest in peace, your loved.rnYour cousin Margie Davenport Gunderman
Barb and familyrnrnAlthough I currently live in OH, I often read the Burlington County Obits. When I saw Stellwag, I continued to read and noted that Bud was your brother.rnI recall how lovingly you spoke of him way back in 1971-1973 when we worked together. My sincerest condolences to you and to his immediate family!
To my oldest and dearest brother. I love you so very much. I know you are now at peace with Dad and finally have no pain. You were such a strong person and even at the end you never complained. n You were blessed with a loving wife and two beautiful daughters who were always proud to call you nDad.n I will never forget how you always made us laugh and even though you called me shit for brains and constantly picked on me growing up I always knew you were there for me if I needed you.n n
So Sorry for your loss Betty. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Hi cuz! That is always how we always greeted each other. I remember the first time I met you, it was at your Baptism. I was six years old. I saw you in the the cradle, didn’t think much of you cause there was soda to drink and potato chips to eat, I even sampled some beer someone left unattended. That night I threw up and my mom said it must have been the potato chips. Yea, right mom. Anyhow, later on in life you and I had many good times working together on cars and the many projects we somehow got volunteered for. Also the fishing trips, playing guitar, and spending a some vacations together. Then I had to move to Oklahoma and you and Betty were one of the first to come visit us. Bud, I thank you being there for me and always making me laugh. I love ya man! I’m gonna miss you cuz. May you rest in peace – Amen.
Betty, I never met your husband but I know from you what a wonderful relationship you had and I cannot imagine what you go through right now. There is nothing I can say to make things better. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers, be it morning or night, worried how you are going through your day after his loss. May he rest in peace.
Will never forget all the good parties and good times our family had with his family. Really going to miss him and the fun he would make for everyone no matter what the circumstances.rnLove,rnPatsy
Dear Betty,rnBetty we have gotten to know Bud through you and your wonderful devotion and care for him. We are so sorry for your loss. Your are in our prayers. rnGod Bless you and your family.
Where do I begin ???? I was blessed w/ the opportunity to meet this wonderful man at Sandy and Joes wedding. And what an honor it was!! A man I met once and felt like I knew forever.. and will never forget. Taken too soon. Mr Stellwag I will raise a Bud today in your honor and with every one will remember that wonderful smile of yours!! :)rnMy Deepest sympathy to Mrs Stellwag, My dear friend Sandy & Beth. rnMy thoughts and prayers are with you today and the days ahead.
Dear Betty I am so sorry to hear about Bud we did not know him that well we lived next door to you for only one year but in that year he make us laugh even when he started calling Debbie Harry and even when my sweet Dave and Bud would tease each other about the eagles and yhe cowboys they always had a good laugh i bet Dave and Bud are up in heaven dave saying go eagles and Bud saying go cowboys if you ever want to talk i will be here for you thank you for being great neighbors
so sorry for your loss …ur truly and always your friend ..vinny
Well, Cuz Buddy, I know one thing you accomplished here on this earth: you made me a “Ford Believer”! (ha,ha,ha) We always had fun. Even the night you took me dancing at The Washington House. The owner just wouldn’t believe that I was your cousin. (He didn’t believe you the time you took Cousin Judy there either). He knew you just like everyone else did: You were always “cutting up”!!! Miss that sense of humor even though we were far apart in miles. But I have lots of great memories, Cousin Buddy. (Cutting school together, etc. (whoops, sorry Aunt Millie!! lol)) Loved ya bunches … Say “hi” to your dad for me. I’ll bet the two of you are seeing who can tell the best joke right now!! And my dad probably keeps putting his two cents in as well!!!rnSeriously, my deepest sympathies to his wonderful family … Always, Cousin Nancy
I never met Bud, but Betty often spoke kindly of him. They both loved watching the Phillies. From my discussions with Betty I sense that they were always very close and always did things together. I only know of what it is like to loose a parent, not a life long partner and spouse. My prayers are with Betty and Bud’s children, Bud is in a better place. He will always be with his family in memory.
Betty, rnrn My sincere condolences to you and your family. I didnt know Bud very long, but he had a special place in my heart. May you have peace in knowing how much he loved you and in the memories you shared.rnrnSincerely,rnrnSheila, RN 4NE Virtua
Betty and Girls, I am deeply saddened to hear of Bud’s passing. He was quite the character and working with him was always a pleasure although at times, trying, even. I have a lot of great memories of all the teasing he did. My sincere condolences also to his Mother, Sisters, Brother and the entire Stellwag clan.
Betty, we were so sad to hear of Bud’s passing. It was way too soon. Haven’t seen you in quite a while, but have never forgotten what a great couple you were right from the start. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.