Juanita M. Kernekin - Obituary

uanita Marie Kernekin (Weaver), 84, of Riva, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2026 surrounded by loved ones. Juanita was born on October 10, 1942 in Pelham, North Carolina she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Geneva (Adkins) Weaver. Juanita is survived by her loving children, Ronald Kernekin (Joran) and Kimberly Stock; her cherished grandchildren, Stephanie Amoruso, Kristen Amoruso, Jessica Skipper, and Ricky Skipper; and five great-grandchildren, Donovan, Dylan, Savanna, Desi, and Sophie. She is also survived by her devoted sister, Shirley Connolly; her nieces, Suraya Teeple and Kelly LaValley; her nephew, Marc Connolly; and her niece, Susan Connelly. As a young adult, Juanita lived with her sister Shirley, where they both worked as telephone operators for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. The sisters enjoyed dancing and taking weekend excursions together. Throughout the years, Juanita and Shirley loved sharing stories of their younger days and the many adventures they experienced together. Juanita was a dedicated mother to Ronnie and Kim and took an active interest in their lives, including The Mod Squad Majorettes. Her home was often a gathering place for family and friends, with weekends spent enjoying each other’s company around the backyard pool. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought her much happiness. Juanita was a devoted Christian who loved reading her Bible, attending church, and enjoying fellowship with others. Her faith was an important part of her life. In April 2019, she traveled to Jerusalem to visit the places where Jesus lived and walked. On April 17, 2019, she reaffirmed her baptismal vows in the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. This was a deeply meaningful and special moment in her life. Juanita enjoyed staying active and learning new things. She had a love for dancing and took ballroom dancing lessons, even participating in competitions. She also loved eating crabs and traveling with her family. Juanita had a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for making others laugh. She would often burst into song, singing out loud simply to bring a smile to someone's face. Her playful spirit and laughter brought joy to all around her and will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. Family was an important part of Juanita's life, she will be forever remembered and deeply missed by her loved ones. Juanita was preceded in death by her brothers, Clyde Weaver, Larry Weaver, and Roger Weaver. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Juanita's life on Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 12pm until her funeral service begins at 1pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037.