Ilona Stewart

Ilona "Boo" Stewart

August 3, 1949 – June 5, 2025

Ilona Stewart, affectionately known as "Boo" or "Lona" by her family and friends, passed away on June 5, 2025, at the age of 75. Born in Harlem Hospital on August 3, 1949, she was a proud native of Harlem with deep roots in Beaufort, South Carolina. Though she was born in the heart of the city, Ilona had the soul of a Southern matriarch—full of warmth, wisdom, and just the right amount of spice. Harlem made her fierce, while the South contributed to her sweetness.

A true Leo, Ilona was bold and passionate and never afraid to speak her mind, sometimes with opinions that came with a sting. Her sharp tongue and even sharper wit made her both feared and adored at family gatherings. She had a unique gift for making people laugh and cry simultaneously—sometimes with the very same sentence.

Ilona was the beloved daughter of Rose Stewart and William Daniels. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and siblings: her older brother Tommy Stewart, older sister Vivian Stewart, and younger brother William Daniels Jr. We take comfort in knowing she is now wrapped in the arms of her mother, catching up on lost time and likely giving everyone up there a good talking to.

She leaves behind her only son, Kevin D. Stewart, who was the center of her universe. Her legacy lives on through her grandchildren: Jacqueline Rose Stewart, Ayanna A. Oliver, Donnell K. Oliver, and Jaheim Stewart. She was also a proud great-grandmother to Jamel Rocker and Amiya Oliver and a loving presence in the lives of her extended grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tafari Oliver, Bakiyse Magee Oliver, Jamorra Mitchell Allah, and their children.

Ilona's heart extended far beyond blood. She also leaves behind a village of nieces and nephews—Nathan Lee Stewart, Roland Stewart, Desi Stewart, Dexter Stewart, Lillie Mae Stewart, Lorraine Stewart, Annette Stewart, Debra Best, and Gwen Stewart—and more than 30 grand-nieces and nephews who all carry a piece of her with them.

She was a pillar of the Clinton Houses in East Harlem, where she raised her son and helped nurture generations more. Ilona was active in her community, serving on the neighborhood watch, joining a book club, and never missing a good party or a chance to play her numbers. Music filled her home, joy filled her spirit, and truth—sometimes brutal, often hilarious—filled her conversations.

Ilona earned her associate's degree from Touro College and dedicated many years of service at Elmhurst Hospital before retiring. Her work, family, and community were integral to the rich legacy she left behind—a legacy filled with laughter, love, strength, and storytelling.

She was the life of every room she entered. Though her light has dimmed here on Earth, her fire will continue to burn brightly in all who knew her.

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