Stefanie was born in Breslau, Germany to Lisbeth Kaliski and Sigmund Rechnitz on March 13, 1925. She was raised in her home country but became a refuge from Nazi Germany prior to World War II. She and her family had to relocate to Chile, where she lived most of her adult life. In 1981, Stefanie and her husband, Hans, made their final home in the United States to be closer to their daughter, Ruth.

Stefanie is the beloved wife of the late Hans Engel; devoted mother of Ruth (Zevi Miller) Engel; cherished grandmother of Judith (William Baude) Miller and David (Camille Herland) Miller; loving grandmother of Herschel, Esther and Simon; and dear sister of the late Leonie Doernberg.

A funeral service for Stefanie will be held at Paul R. Young Funeral Home in Oxford on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 10 am with burial to immediately follow at Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Joint which supported them after arriving in Chile, Freestore Foodbank or a charity of your choice.