Obituary of Lena Marie Venafro

Lena Marie Venafro passed quietly on 14 October 2018 at Parkwest Medical Center.  She was born on 11 July 1923 in Harrisburg, PA to Francesco & Ignazia (Mascari) DiNatale who immigrated to the US in 1920 from Termini Imerese, Palermo, Italy.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Anthony Venafro Jr. and a son Carlo Venafo Sr and 7 of her 8 siblings that include 2 brothers killed in WW II.   She lived most of her life in Atlantic City and Absecon, NJ before moving to Knoxville in 2005.

She is survived by her older sister, Mary Kindness Mirilli of Hershey, PA, her sons Anthony (Lynn) of Knoxville, Robert (Jane) of VA, Thomas (Sandy) of CT and 2 daughters in laws.  She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Anthony (Ellie) Venafro IV, Regina (Paul) Martin, Michael (Lisa) Venafro, Joseph (Ivey) Venafro, David Venafro, Anthony (Liz) Venafro, Angela (John) Herbert, Carlo (Vanessa) Venafro Jr, Casey (Larissa) Venafro, Thomas (Tawney) Venafro Jr, Dante Venafro and Lena Venafro.  Also surviving are 20 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be said at 10:30 am on Monday, 22 October 2018 at All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN.  There will also be a Celebration of Life for family and friends in the NJ, PA and VA area on Saturday, 10 November 2018 in Chantilly, VA.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the St. Michael’s Catholic Church Preservation at St. Michael's Catholic Church Preservation Society at Save St, Mikes, PO Box 1375, Atlantic City, NJ 08404 or the Termini Imerese Database at Comuni di Italia,org, PO Box 309, Livingston, IL 62058-0309