Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.

Friends are invited to celebrate Shirley's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Thursday, October 17 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm. A funeral service will be held at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, 377 W Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD on Friday, October 18 at 11 am. Interment Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery, Annapolis, MD.

*A full obituary will updated shortly*

Please take a moment to leave a condolence for the family by visiting the Memories link on this page.

Lorraine Catherine Wright, 92, of Annapolis, died peacefully with dignity and grace on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

She was born to the late William and Mae McLaughlin on February 10, 1932, in Woodbury, NJ. In addition to her parents, Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Harry F. Wright, Jr.; her son, Douglas C. Wright; and her brother, William J. McLaughlin, Jr. 
Lorraine and Harry moved from New Jersey to Severna Park, Maryland, in 1964. They lived in Oakleigh Forest for many years, where Lorraine loved her neighbors and enjoyed beautifying the community with her talents in gardening and decorating. They later moved to Bayberry Hill in Crownsville, where Lorraine and Harry loved being surrounded by nature and their views of the Severn River.  More recently, Lorraine lived in Heritage Harbor, Annapolis, and cherished her conversations with neighbors.

Lorraine often spoke of joyful memories growing up with her brother in New Jersey, where they were surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Throughout her life, she also loved spending time at the South Jersey Shore in Sea Isle, Wildwood Crest, and Cape May, NJ. A talented artist, Lorraine spent many hours expressing her creativity through china painting, ceramics, and Japanese silk art. 

She is survived by three children: Harry (Linda) Wright, III, of Arnold, MD; Lonni (Phil) Pitis of North Wales, PA; and Gregory (Deborah) Wright of Laurel, MD. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Mark, Scott, and Tyler Pitis; Samantha (Chip) Leigh; Melanie and Alexandria Wright; and four great-grandchildren: Luke Pitis and Reighlyn, Forrest, and Adelaide Leigh.

Friends are invited to celebrate Lorraine’s life on Saturday, October 5, from 11 am to 1 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Graveside service and interment will follow at 2 pm at Lakemont Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Davidsonville, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation to Lorraine’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A memorial fund in her name has been established at this link: <a href="https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Memorials/Memorials?px=8596629&pg=personal&fr_id=154020">Click Here</a>


























Family and friends are invited to celebrate Joseph's life on Friday, October 18th from 10-11:30 AM until the start of the funeral service at 11:30 AM at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745. 

James "Jimmy" M. Fleshman, 65, a 25-year resident of Annapolis, MD, and previously of Cheverly, MD, died of Leukemia on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at his home.

Jimmy was born June 20, 1959, in Cheverly, MD, to the late Hazel Ida and Donald C. Fleshman, Sr. He graduated from Bladensburg High School and worked in the automotive painting industry for 40 years. Jimmy enjoyed riding his motorcycle with friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Fleshman,  and his two sisters, Linda Kahoe and Kim Fleshman.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 42 years, April Sunday Fleshman; a daughter, Jessica Lorah of Georgetown, DE; four brothers, Donald (Debbie) Fleshman, Jr., Phil Fleshman, Steve Fleshman, and Curt (Jill) Fleshman. He is also survived by seven nephews and eight nieces. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Jimmy's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD, on Thursday, October 3, from 2 pm until his memorial service begins at 3 pm. Memorial donations may be made in Jimmy's name to the <a href="https://give.cancerresearch.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2560&mfc_pref=T&2560.donation=form1">Cancer Research Institute</a>.

Please take a moment to leave a condolence for the family by visiting the Memories link on this page.

Jeffrey Stuart Janos, 64, of Annapolis, passed away at his home on September 25, 2024. He is preceded in death by his mother, Aleitha Perry Janos; his father, Joseph Janos, and his daughter, Abbigail. He is survived by his children, Christopher (Jacki) and Allison (Matthew), along with their mother, Deedee. Known affectionately as “Grampy,” he leaves behind his cherished granddaughters, Avery and Teagan, as well as his sister, Lynn Rosol (Joe), and brother, Michael Janos (Vicki), along with many dear nieces and nephews.

A lifelong resident of Annapolis, Jeff was passionate about sports, often cheering for the Washington Commanders and the Washington Capitals. Music was another significant part of his life; a drummer since childhood, he had a deep love for classic rock, which he shared with his children, instilling in them an appreciation for a diverse range of bands.

In addition to his love of music, Jeff was an avid lacrosse player, having played for Annapolis High School, Anne Arundel Community College, and various club teams throughout the area. He passed on his passion for the sport to his children, coaching numerous teams for the Annapolis Youth Lacrosse Association (AYLA), and enjoyed supporting the Navy and Salisbury lacrosse teams.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time. A memorial service will be held at a future date, to be determined.

Please use the memories tab on this page to leave a message for the family.


Marianna “Yutka” Jurkevich, a 52-year resident of Annapolis, MD and previously of Levittown, PA passed away on September 24, 2024 at the Hospice of the Chesapeake Rebecca Fortney Care Center. Born on June 28, 1929 in Rovno, Poland, she was 95 years old. As a child she and her family survived occupation by first the Soviet Union and then Nazi Germany.

Marianna loved to cook and was affectionately known as the “hostess with the mostess”. Marianna was a skilled atelier a world traveler, setting foot on all seven continents. an avid reader with unbounded curiosity and a lover of art, ballet and classical music .

In addition to her parents, Marianna is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Igor Jurkevich; her brother, Dimitry of London, Ontario; and her sister, Olga of Vancouver, BC. She is survived by her sons, Mark of Warsaw, Poland and Nick of Annapolis, MD and her daughter, Gayana of New York, NY. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Marianna's life on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 2-4 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12 pm at St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Christian Cemetery in Jackson, New Jersey.

Virginia Louise Kiehn was born on April 3, 1944, in Rockville, Maryland, to the late James R. Alexander and Frances L. Strother. She graduated from Annapolis Senior High School in 1962 and began her career with Nationwide Insurance on Riva Road in Annapolis later that same year. She retired in 1999 after 37 years of dedicated service.

Louise met her husband, Delroy D. Kiehn while driving around Downtown Annapolis. It was love at first sight, and they married a few months later before he deployed to the Philippines. They were reunited and married for 58 years; the rest is history. 

In addition to her husband, Louise is survived by her brothers, Robert Sutphin of Annapolis, Maryland, Mark, Kelly and Brian Pullen; her sisters, Barbara Martin (Ray) and Betty Smoot of Glen Burnie, Maryland, and Susan Jacobsen of Huntingtown, Maryland and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and one great-great-nephew.
Louise was predeceased by her parents, James and Frances Alexander; her brothers, William Sutphin, Troy and J. Ralph Alexander, Keith Pullen and James Alexander; her sister, Nancy Alexander; her sister-in-law, Pauline Sutphin and her brothers-in-law, Eric Jacobsen and Jerry Smoot.

She enjoyed traveling, going to the casino, playing card games, crocheting, and spending time with her family.  

Friends are invited to celebrate Louise's life on Tuesday, October 1 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where her funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 2 at 11 am. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Annapolis, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.

Harry H. Pulley, an 18-year resident of Millsboro, DE and formerly of Davidsonville, MD passed away of a cardiac event on September 22, 2024 while visiting family. He was 87.
Born in Pasadena, MD to the late John and Ida Pulley, he was one of seven children and the last remaining.
Harry worked as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic before retirement.  He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Clinton and had an honorable discharge from the US Air Force.
Harry was an outdoorsman, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, camping and cruises.  He loved to tinker in the garage.  He was an avid sports fan with a love of baseball and football, and faithfully watched his favorite teams on TV.
In addition to his parents, Harry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 40 years, June Pulley, and his youngest daughter, Lisa Pulley. He is survived by his life partner, Patricia Dove of Millsboro; his three children, Carla Burt of Edgewater, Robert Pulley of Baltimore, and Carmen Gatton of Arnold; seven grandchildren, Christina, Kimberly, Kristen, Michael, Nick, Natalie and Noah; six great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. 
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Harry’s life on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 12 noon at the Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Burial to follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 W Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.

Daniel Joseph Helmly, Jr., of Lothian, MD, lost his life in a traffic accident on Sunday, Sep 22, 2024. Daniel was a lifelong resident of Lothian, MD, and attended Anne Arundel County Public  Schools. He was a graduate of Southern High School class of 2023. 

As a young boy, Daniel was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop 249. He studied Tae Kwon Do for several years, earning his First Degree Black Belt at the age of 13 under the direction of Master Wes and Master Tommy. After completing that accomplishment, baseball became his passion. He played for SCYA under the guidance of many wonderful coaches. When he moved on to high school baseball, he played Catcher and Relief Pitcher for the Southern Bulldogs JV and Varsity teams. 

After graduation, Daniel spent the summer working and spending time with his friends, knowing everyone would part ways at summer’s end. He moved to Clearwater, Florida with friends and learned several home improvement and carpentry skills at Atlas Mobile Home Services. In July of 2024, he moved home to Maryland with the ambition of becoming a Finish Carpenter.

Daniel enjoyed many activities, including snowboarding, camping, boating, fishing, kayaking in the waters of Clearwater, music, meeting new people and learning about everything. He enjoyed mentoring young children. His favorite hobbies were BMW cars and riding his motorcycle with friends. He loved animals, especially cats, and adopted his own cat Pouris from a Clearwater shelter.

Daniel leaves behind his father, Daniel Helmly, Sr., his mother Jennifer (Marshall) Helmly of Lothian, and his sisters Kinsey Helmly of Lothian, Linden Helmly of Chesapeake Beach, MD, and Caitlin Helmly of Delaware. He leaves behind many loving Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Everyone should live with such enthusiasm and inquisitiveness that Daniel had.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Daniel's life on Tuesday, October 8, from 1:30 pm until his memorial service starts at 3 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd. Edgewater, MD 21037. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Daniel's name to the <a href= "https://spayspa.org/giving/make-a-donation/"> Spay Spa & Neuter Nook</a>, 1251 West Central Avenue, Unit H, Davidsonville, MD 21035, the <a href= "https://www.helenkrause.org/support-our-cause/guardian-angel-program">Helen O. Krause Animal Foundation</a> in Dillsburg, PA (through their guardian angel program you can sponsor a cat in Daniel's name), or to your favorite cat rescue organization. 


Debra Ellen Sherwood, 67, a 34-year resident of Annapolis, MD, died on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

She was born to the late Nick and Alma Himmel on October 16, 1956, in Yale, MI, and raised on her family farm in Brown City, MI. Debra put herself through college, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 1978 ("Fire up Chips!"). During this time she worked as an RA, council officer, and mentor for freshman orientation. Debra also showed Chippewa spirit as a team cheerleader. 

She was a flight attendant for American Airlines from 1980 to 2020, with a furlough period from 1981 to 1983; during which Debra worked at NASA, Houston. Throughout her career with American Airlines, Debra was based in Chicago, Dallas, Washington, DC, and Miami, gaining extensive experience serving on both domestic and international flight routes. 

She was a member of the Bay Winds Band, Benfield Pops Band, the Eastport Yacht Club, and the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club. Debra enjoyed playing the trumpet, gardening, attending her book club, boating, and hiking. Her Dragon Boat experience took her to two international competitions in the US and Italy. Hiking experience included the Appalachian Trail and completing the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and granddogs (Stout and Levi). Together, they spent time boating the Intracoastal Waterway, and exploring cenotes, caves, and pyramids in Mexico.

In addition to her parents, Debra was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly Himmel.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 34 years, Michael Sherwood; two children, Jeffrey (Kimberly) of Providence, RI, and Ellen of Annapolis, MD and three siblings, Nick (Sharon) of Elkton, MI, Leslie of Grand Rapids, MI, and Susan of Portage, MI.

Friends are invited to celebrate Debra's life on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 28 at 11 am at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 1120 Spa Road, Annapolis, MD. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

**Please note flowers may be sent to Kalas for the viewing but not to the church.**

Online condolences and tributes may be made using the memories link on this page.

Kenneth J. Claro, Jr., 56, a 40-year resident of Churchton, MD, died at his home on September 21, 2024.

Known to family and friends as Kenny, he was born on July 14, 1968, to the late Marion "Joyce" Claro and Kenneth Claro, Sr. Kenny was an avid Washington Commanders fan who had a passion for jet skiing, playing guitar, singing, and performing magic and card tricks.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three siblings, Kevin, Debbie, and Karen Claro.

Kenny is survived by a son, Kenny Claro, III of Prince Frederick, MD; a nephew, Michael Sosa of Canada; a sister, Krissy Claro of Virginia; and four grandchildren, Ayden, Zayne, Dominic, and Malayah.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Kenny's life on Friday, October 11 from 5 to 9 pm at the Deale Elks Lodge #2528, 6022 Drum Point Rd., Deale, MD.  An online guestbook is available by visiting the Memories link on this page.

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Celebrating the Life of...

Lyudmila Semus

Shirley Owen

Lorraine Wright

Joseph Hedgman

James "Jimmy" Fleshman

Jeffrey Janos

Marianna Jurkevich

Louise "Weezie" Kiehn

Harry Pulley

Daniel Helmly, Jr.

Debra Sherwood

Kenneth Claro, Jr.

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