Peter Stempniak, 36, formerly of Oak Park, died on Nov. 17, 2022, after he was hit by car in the Sacramento, California suburb of Carmichael, where he had lived for more than a decade.
Born in Oak Park, Peter studied at Irving Elementary, Julian Middle School, and OPRF High School, from which he graduated in 2005. He later attended chef’s school at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, pursuing his passion for preparing food. Then he joined the U.S. Marines, spending time in San Diego and Okinawa, Japan.
After his discharge, he moved to Northern California with his first-born child and wife, Fiordaliza Nunez, whom he met while both were in a high school work-study program at Rush Oak Park Hospital. They married in 2010. A longtime stay-at-home father, he walked his kids to school, made lunches, took their oldest to wrestling practice and meets (“Big Pete” also wrestled at OPRF and played football), and more recently worked part-time to help pay for aftercare. In his spare time, he was active in his church community, played the harmonica (also trombone at Julian and OPRF), and enjoyed fitness and movies.
Peter is survived by his wife, Fiordaliza Nunez; his children, Azariah (4), Luke (8), Beth (10) and Peter (12); pup Jazzy; siblings, Martin (Jennifer) and Zachary (Melissa) Stempniak; half-sister, Margaret (David) Del Vecchio (nee Stempniak); his mother, Agnes Stempniak of Oak Park; and his niece, Mia, and three nephews, Calvin, Joseph and Max. He was preceded in death by his father, Martin Stempniak of Oak Park, and his half-brother, Matthew Stempniak.
An open-house, celebration-of-life event is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave., Oak Park. All are invited to stop by between 1 and 5 p.m.
The family has established an online fundraiser to benefit his widow and children at https://gofund.me/c66f4860.
