Stephanka Anna "Stefie" Kantardjieff of Hollywood, California, passed away early on Monday, August 17th, 2020 after a courageous four and a half year journey following a debilitating a stroke in 2016.

Stefie was born March 28, 1930, the youngest of three children, to Evan and Anka Tacheff in Indianapolis, Indiana. They moved to Los Angeles in 1939, where Anka hoped that Stefie might pursue a career in Hollywood. Stefie had a beautiful singing voice, and she looked like Shirley Temple. She briefly pursued professional modeling. Stefie graduated from Hollywood High School in 1947, and she completed Paralegal Studies at Los Angeles City College. In later years, Stefie would become known as "the world's greatest secretary".

Stefie met her husband, Steve, in the Bulgarian community of Los Angeles. Their courtship began with a box of cookies that Stefie sent to Steve while he was assigned to the Army Language School in Monterey. Stefie and Steve were married on July 18, 1953. They welcomed their first child, daughter Katherine, in 1957, and their son Ted, in 1961.

Stefie was active in numerous community volunteer activities, ranging from parents' organizations at her children's schools, to local women's clubs, including Hollywood and Ebell. She served as President of the Los Feliz Women's Club from 1993-1995. Stefie and Steve were also active in the civic life of Beverly Hills. Stefie was a prominent member of St. Kliment of Ohrid Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Hollywood, where she sang soprano in the church choir, often singing beautiful solos in church hymns. She led the women's guild, typed up and assembled the church bulletins, and she baked the Easter Bread for the annual services. She had the privilege of baking the special loaf of "kozunak" for the altar. Stefie also prepared the altar bread each Sunday for many years, an honor passed on to her from her mother, Anka.

Stefie loved to bake, especially for holidays and birthdays. She was known for her tunnel of fudge cake, served at Ted and Katherine's piano recitals. The neighborhood kids and cousins would often gather after school at the Kantardjieff home for some of the best chocolate chip cookies.

Stefie was an avid reader of mysteries, including Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, and she loved doing crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed reading and talking about anything to do with Hollywood. Stefie is survived by Steve, her husband of 67 years, her children, Katherine and Ted, and her sister, Jean (Ganka) Ramirez. She was predeceased by her parents, and brother, George Tacheff.

Stefie's love of family, generous heart, dedication to volunteer work, affection for all things Hollywood, and hearty laugh will be missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the American Stroke Association or American Cancer Society.