John Ventura

John Ventura was born on July 9, 1929 in Baltimore, Maryland as the first American-born child of Agatino and Gaetana. One of four children including Josephine, Anthony, Mary Ann, he spent his childhood in Baltimore and attended St. Paul’s School. He soon started working in the dairy business at Kress Dairy at age 14. He eventually became a supervisor at Koontz Creamery and Green Spring Dairy until he moved onto other industries and later retired. In 1948, he met Norma Nell Lilly and her sister Marilyn “TooToo.” In a twist of fate, John, who thought he was calling for Marilyn, spoke to Norma and asked for a date. On July 23, 1957, they were married at St. Matthew’s Church. John became the father of Norma’s two sons Gary Wade and Kenneth Ray, followed by the birth of Tina Diane in 1962.

John, a hot-blooded, die-hard Sicilian, his cultural family roots touched everything he did. An avid lover of automobiles, John enjoyed building and restoring old cars including his 1957 Ford Thunderbird, 1940’s Chevrolet coupe and most recently 1980’s Corvette. Married for nearly 52 years, John and Norma were avid travelers reaching Sicily, the Panama Canal, Grand Canyon, Mexico, Hawaii and many other far off places. John loved spending time with his family and friends and being around people. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish Hydes and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He continued to be involved in Norma’s Lever Brother’s retirement group, even after she passed, and became involved in the Jacksonville Senior Center. In later life, he found a great and true friend in Jean Skalniak. They spent many happy times at the Polish Home and other cultural events.

John was the devoted husband of the late Norma Lilly Ventura; loving father of Tina V. North and her devout husband Michael, the late Gary W. Woodman, survived by his wife Mary, and the late Kenneth R. Wilson, survived by his wife and John’s devoted daughter-in-law Jessica; cherished grandfather of Jennifer and her husband Edward, Christina and her husband Anthony, Amy, Bridget and her husband Adarsh, Aaron and his wife Sarah, William, Emily, Anthony and Brian. John is survived by his cherished great-grandchildren Matthew, Catherine, Anthony, Emma, Shiva, Effie and Ozzy. Beloved Uncle of Mary Ann Slomba and family. Dear friend to all.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family kindly asks for donations to St. John the Evangelist Parish Hydes or Stella Maris.

The family will receive friends in the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road), Timonium, MD, 21093 on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 13305 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD, 21082 on Wednesday, July 22 at 10 A.M.

Interment Gardens of Faith Cemetery.