Nina D. DeStefano, 92, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, May 14, 2009, with her family by her side. Nina was born in Philadelphia on Nov. 3, 1916, to Anatole and Clara Pokatiloff. At a very young age, her family moved to Chicago where she was raised and graduated from Fenger High School.

She married William Galloway and had two children, Bob and Janice. In 1951 she married Michael DeStefano and had two more children, Michael III and Teresa. The family moved to Carpentersville, Ill., in 1956. Nina lived there until 1997, and has lived in Kalispell since 1999.

Nina was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved to travel and enjoyed reading, bowling, going for walks, playing pinochle, and spending time with family and friends.

She was a lifetime Democrat, was involved with school parent organizations, Girl and Boy Scouts, and senior citizen clubs. She was greatly loved and will be missed.

Nina was preceded in death by her parents, Anatole and Clara Pokatiloff; husband, Michael DeStefano; brother, Walter Pokatiloff; sister, Vera Cody; and son, Robert Galloway.

Nina is survived by her daughters, Janice Dow and Teresa DeStefano, of Kalispell; son, Michael DeStefano III, and wife, Lisa, of Vista, Calif.; grandchildren, Ursula DeStefano of Kalispell, Michael IV and Christopher DeStefano of Vista; and great-grandchildren, Rylin and Jasper, of Kalispell.

A private celebration of Nina's life is planned for this summer.

Friends are encouraged to visit the Web site at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolence notes for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.