With profound love and gratitude for a life beautifully lived, the family announces the passing of Annette K. Stewart, who left this world on Dec. 8, 2025, just two months shy of her 100th birthday.
Surrounded by the legacy she created, she departed peacefully at Cottage Hospital, leaving behind a century’s worth of wisdom, compassion, and unwavering strength.
Born on Feb. 28, 1926 to Patrick and Kate Mahoney (nee: Grisingher) in Santa Maria, California, Annette was proud to have been raised in Guadalupe.
She dedicated her life to service, learning, and nurturing others.
She attended Santa Maria High School where in her freshman year Annette Mahoney met her sweetheart Robert Stewart, who she eventually married and shared 68 happy years.
Annette studied at UCLA to complete her nursing degree and received a scholarship to Children’s School of Physical Therapy earning her certification as a physical therapist.
She later earned her master’s degree in education and certification as a reading specialist at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Annette later diligently achieved her Ph.D in early childhood education from Gevirtz School of Education at UCSB.
in early childhood education’s remarkable career spanned multiple callings. She served as a devoted nurse, a compassionate physical therapist, an inspiring elementary school teacher, and ultimately a respected school principal.
She was selected as the principal at the new Main Street School in Guadalupe, and for many years as the lay principal of Saint Rafael’s Catholic Elementary School in Santa Barbara.
Annette was proud of the generations of students who would stop “Dr. Stewart“ on the street or in a store to say hello and wish her well.
In every role, she lifted others up — whether healing, teaching, or guiding — always with patience, humility and grace.
Back in the good old days, with their kids and boat in tow, Bob and Annette summered for many years in Avila Beach with the extended Mahoney and Stewart families who filled the old trailer park and the beach with countless kids and good times.
They were also members of the Harmony Dance Club and the Elks Club Caravaneers. Together they danced across a multitude of floors and traveled to many states and cruise destinations.
Annette also enjoyed international travels with friends and family to numerous exotic destinations and would pack her suitcase at the drop of a hat and leave Bob to happily oversee the homestead.
When Bob was no longer able to care for the homestead or himself, Annette stepped in and lovingly cared for him until his passing.
Above all, Annette was proud to be a devoted wife and amazing mother to her seven children. Her six surviving children each carries forward her resilience and vigor, and can only hope to match her kindness.
Her home was filled with humor and an energy that encouraged a sense of family unity, a willingness to be there for each other and a drive to excel.
Aside from the time she enjoyed tending to her garden, Annette was an avid volunteer, from driving trucks for the military during World War II to years of teaching CCD to 1st-3rd graders and working with the developmentally disabled at Saint Rafael’s Parish, as well as with the Ladies of Charity at St. Vincent’s in Santa Barbara.
A woman of exceptional strength and boundless energy, Annette touched countless lives of students, patients, colleagues, friends, especially her family.
Even when her health failed her, she maintained unyielding faith and a positive attitude. Her legacy is one of service, education and generosity that continues to ripple outward through generations.
She is survived by Susan Stewart (Dennis Rowe), Tom Stewart (Barbara), Bob Stewart (Gloria), Patti Stewart, Bill Stewart (Andrea) and James Stewart (Jeanne).
She was proudly blessed with 14 grandchildren and eight great grands who she treasured immensely.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert R. Stewart and her daughter Marylou Stewart.
A celebration of Annette’s extraordinary life will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22 at St. Louis de Montfort Church, 1190 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Annette’s memory honoring her lifelong commitment to caring for others to St Vincent’s Early Childhood Education Center, or the Family Strengthening Program stvincents-sb.org.
May her memory be a blessing, and may the faith, compassion, and energy she embodied live on in all who knew her.