Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory-Edgewater

Venetia Lavato, 88, of Upper Marlboro passed away Monday, January 7, 2019, surrounded by family and friends at the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Harwood, MD.   Born Venetia Marie Neal on March 31, 1930, to the late LeRoy and Ada (Kruger) Neal in Bagley, Iowa, she was the youngest of 5.  After her father died in 1933, her mother and the children resettled in Oregon.  Venetia attended the Oregon State University primary education program, graduating in 1951, and then began her teaching career.  She married Richard R. Kyle of Medford, Oregon.

After her husband joined the Air Force, they lived in a number of different places including California, where their daughter was born, and Japan, where their son was born.  The family lived in Germany from 1963 to 1966.  Returning to the US, Venetia settled in Maryland, where she continued teaching first grade and later became a real estate broker.  She married Richard Lavato, who died several years later.  

For the last 35 years of her life, she enjoyed the companionship of Jake Brentzel, his children and their families.  She also enjoyed entertaining, reading, and being on the water as well as tending to her house and garden.

Venetia is survived by her two children Jenness Terenzini (Joseph), and Richard R. Kyle, Jr. (Susan); her two grandchildren Douglas Ewalt (Natalie), and Lisa Recker (Michael); and six great-grandchildren Amber Recker, Christabel Recker, Michael Recker, Savanna Ewalt, Ryan Ewalt, and Alexandra Ewalt, as well as nieces Judy, Jan, Jackie, Linda, Susan and Karen, and nephews Bruce, Ted and Mark.

Friends are invited to celebrate Venetia’s life with the family at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomon’s Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037 on Saturday, February 2, 2019, from 2-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, Mandrin Inpatient Care Center, 3675 Solomon’s Island Road, Harwood, MD 20776.  Online condolences and tributes may be offered using the Condolences and Tributes link.


Venetia M. Lavato

Venetia M. Lavato

Venetia Lavato Services

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