Stella Baurnes was the daughter of Joseph and Antonette (Burb) Brazosky, both born in Lithuania, and residents of Homestead, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1920. At that time, Stella, 8, had a sister, Isabella, 13, and a brother, Joseph, almost 3. In 1930, Stella was Estella.

The father, Joseph, died in 1938, at which time the death information was provided by his daughter, Isobel Brazosky. The mother was already deceased, date unknown.

At least, Joseph, Jr. and Stella changed their surname to Baurnes, which Joseph used throughout his life. He died in 1957.

"Stella Baurnes Pikutis, 230 3rd Ave., Homestead" appears in Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania For the Period November 1, 1940 Ending October 31, 1941, published by the State Board of Nurse Examiners for Registration of Nurses, Harrisburg.

At the time of the 1940 Federal Census, Stella Pikutis, 28, and her husband, John Pikutis, 27, were living at 230 3rd Ave., Homestead. John was a steward at a Lithuanian Club. No occupation is listed for Stella, but she would have been newly graduated from the school of nursing at St. Francis.

But when Stella P. Brazosky, Nurse, married John Paul Pitutis on November 7, 1939 in Homestead, she used the surname, "Brazosky" in the license application. She said she was born in Coal Centre, Pa., on November 7, 1911. She spelled her mother's maiden name as Burb.

During World War II, Stella Pikutis served as a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps from August 15, 1943 to February 2, 1946. On her application for compensation, dated 1950, she stated she was born November 7, 1911 in Coal Center, Washington, Pennsylvania. Her address at the time of her entry into active service was 219 East 10th Avenue, Homestead. At the time of the application, her address was 4402 Main Street, Homestead Park.

Stella's husband, John Paul Pikutis, served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. His address at the time of entry into active service was 219 East 10th Avenue, Homestead. At the time of the application for compensation, in 1950, his address was 4402 Main Street, Homestead Park.

John Paul Likutis died December 26, 1976. Stella died January 3, 1980. They are buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Munhall, Pennsylvania. Their only son, Paul J., a business professor at Robert Morris University, died in 1986 at age 38.