Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Leonard M. Larese-Casanova passed away just days after his 73rd birthday on August 21, 2014. “Len” was born in Pieve di Cadore, Italy on August 16, 1941 to the late Joseph and Rina Larese-Casanova. They lived in Italy until Len was 8 years old. In 1949, the family moved for work opportunities, first to Argentina and then finally settling in Brooklyn, NY when Len was 14 years old. 
He graduated from high school as captain of his soccer team and as Salutatorian of his class, after just learning English. Len went on to attend the City University of New York where he graduated with honors in Civil Engineering. He spent the next four years in the Commissioned Corps of NOAA where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant and visited over half of our 50 U.S. states doing research. He eventually settled in Annapolis, MD and met his wife of 43 years, Gloria, in an elevator at work. 
Len worked for over 40 years at Maryland‘s Department of Natural Resources, acting as Director of Shore Erosion Control for over three decades. He dedicated his life to preserving the Chesapeake Bay shoreline and was honored with the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay award. Even though Len was a world traveler, his most favorite place to be was at home with his family. He also was an avid reader, great cook (his specialty being breakfast), and loved to go on adventures with his metal detector. He was a dedicated Catholic and member of St. Mary’s Parish for many years.
 Len leaves behind his beloved wife, Gloria; two daughters, Amy Willmarth (Aaron) and Jennie Larese-Casanova (Brad Smith); and grandson, Charles Willmarth; as well as his two brothers Renato Larese-Casanova (Susan) and Lorenzo Larese-Casanova (Yolanda); two sisters, Laura Prusock and Anna Nunn (David), and many other family members and friends. 
A Memorial Mass will be offered for Len at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 10:30am with a reception to follow at the Quiet Waters Blue Heron Room. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Len's name to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation either by mail at: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Dept., 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403; by phone at: 410-268-8816; or on line by "double-clicking" on the address in the left column of this page. 
An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

Maureen Elizabeth Thorne, “Marti”, 67, a lifelong resident of Edgewater, died of pneumonia on August 21, 2014 at Laurel Regional Hospital.
 
Marti was born on September 14, 1946 in Brookline, Massachusetts to the late Guy and Cecilia Clark and was a graduate of Annapolis Senior High. She worked as a office manager for Davidsonville Family Dentistry and was an avid gamer and a very proud grandmother.
 
Marti was preceded in death by her husband Jesse A. Thorne Jr. in 2005 and her son Jay Thorne earlier this year. She is survived by her son, Jan Thorne of Odenton, one brother; Preston Clark of Mechanicsville and one sister; Jacqueline Clark of New York City and one grandson; Tiberius Thorne.
 
Friends are invited to Marti’s Life Celebration on Thursday, August 28, from 6pm until a memorial service begins at 7pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. Interment private. An online guest book is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

All services are private. An online guest book is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

All of heaven rejoiced when Theresa McKenney Suttles, “Terry”, 67, a sixteen-year resident of Annapolis, Md. and formerly of Houston, Tx. went home to be with her Savior on August 20 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis after a six-month battle with cancer. Born on June 30, 1947 in Atlanta, Ga to the late Herbert and Regina McKenney, Terry was a 1965 graduate of Sylvan Hills High School. She spent much of her life raising her three children but in her last 20 years she had discovered a love for healthcare and helping people. She began a home business offering nutritional counseling and naturopathic services and helped hundreds of people achieve wellness, drawing upon her background as a nurse. As a devoted mother to her children and her clients, her business was often lovingly referred to her ‘rent-a-mom’ service. During her life, Terry moved 19 times across two continents but she always called Texas home. Active in countless Bible study groups - organized and impromptu – she provided spiritual guidance and mentoring to friends all over the country, acting as a spiritual mother and even grandmother to so many. She had the most amazing laugh which was especially brought out by her much-loved “pack” of poodles. Terry is survived by her husband of 44 years, Harvey Suttles; three children and beloved son-in-law, James and Chris Suttles and Amanda and Juan Pérez, all of Annapolis and a brother, Charley McKenney of Dallas, TX. Friends are invited to Terry’s Life Celebration from 3 to 6pm on Saturday, August 23 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. A memorial service will be held at 4pm on Sunday, August 24 at Bay Ridge Christian Church, 1071 Bay Ridge Rd., Annapolis, MD 21403. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to her most beloved charity, Regeneration Ministries, P.O. Box 9830, Baltimore, MD 21284-9830 or www.regenerationministries.org (type Suttles in the note field).

The beloved wife of RADM Donald T. Poe; mother of Jeri Trentin of Centreville, VA; grandmother of David (Amy) Trentin and Colin Porter; great grandmother of Haylee and Tyler Trentin and Charlotte Porter. A memorial service will be held at 11am on Friday, August 22 at Friendship Hall at Ginger Cove, 4000 River Crescent Dr., Annapolis, MD followed by a reception. Interment will be at 2pm at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122 or the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 N, Bldg. A, Gambrills, MD 21054. Online guestbook is available by clicking the tab on this page.

Oren Douglas “Doug” Bruton, 82, a 3-year resident of Edgewater and previously of Bowie, MD, died at his home on August 17, 2014 after 9-month battle with cancer. 

Born on November 6, 1931 in Kinston, NC to the late Oren A. and Flora Ervin Bruton, Doug was a talented athlete and, while in high school, was drafted by the New York Giants baseball team. He chose instead to accept a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he was a linebacker for the Tar Heels. He was also a pitcher on UNC’s baseball team. Doug graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. He remained an avid UNC fan all of his life.

Doug served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. While in the reserves, Doug was chosen to be an Intelligence Debriefing Analyst for “Operation Homecoming” after the Vietnam War. He retired from the U. S. Department of Defense as a Special Agent. In his retirement, Doug owned and operated an antique shop. He was a member of the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Bowie for over 40 years.

Doug was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Bruton. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia “Ginny” Terhune Bruton; one brother, Frazier Bruton of Kinston, NC; four nieces, Tamara Page, Deborah Zussman, Terri Friedl and Laura Little; seven nephews, Richard Hanson, Jr., John Hanson, Stephen Terhune, and Brett, Lance, Stephen, Craig and Eric Bruton; and 21 great-nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A visitation will also be held from 10:30 until his funeral service begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 22 at the Woodlawn Baptist Church, 5001 Church Road, Bowie. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. An online guestbook is available by clicking the 'sign guestbook' link above.

John Heinrich Brynarsky 
7.6.51 -8.17.14 

John H. Brynarsky, 63, of Chesapeake Beach, MD passed peacefully on August 17, 2014 at the home of his childhood friend in Brandywine, MD. 

He was Born July 6, 1951, in Washington, DC, to Jack and Helga Brynarsky. While living in District Heights, MD he attended Central High School. In 1968 the family moved to Harwood, MD. John, however, continued to attend Central, graduating in 1969. 

He followed his dad’s career and joined the Operating Engineers Local 77, as a heavy equipment crane operator, beginning his employment with Crane Rental of Washington, DC. Through the years his skill and expertise as a crane operator found him in demand by many companies throughout the metro area. In 1979, at the age of 28, he was operating tower cranes. While working on an addition to the DC Jail he was called upon during a prison escape. From his tower position he was able to radio police below to the whereabouts of the escapee. John was then recognized for his talents in a two page article in the Washington Post. 

Known to his closest friends as “Narsky”, he enjoyed boating, fishing, eating crabs, and his own personal fireworks displays. His most enjoyment came from riding his Harley Davidson. Traveling with friends to numerous motorcycling events, including Laconia, NH, several trips to Daytona, FL and two trips to Sturgis, SD in 2007 and 2010. 

John is survived by his son, Jason Brynarsky, Odenton, MD; his sister Elaine Baker and husband Joe, Edgewater, MD; his mother Helga Brynarsky, Edgewater, MD. He was preceded in death by his father, John J. Brynarsky. 

The family would like to thank Alan Nashwinter and Hope Cooner for their love and caring devotion of “Narsky” during his time of illness at their home. 

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made, in John’s name to Hospice of the Chesapeake.

On Sunday, August 17, 2014; the beloved wife of the late John Wolfe, Jr.; Loving mother of Christine (James) Wolfe Elliott and John R. (Jen) Wolfe II; beloved daughter of Mary Robinson; sister of Patricia Hammer, Paul Robinson and Janet Clark; grandmother of Nicole, Taylor and Ashley Elliott, John R. Wolfe IV, Hailey and Nevaeh Wolfe. Relatives and friends are invited to Claudia's Life Celebration on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 9:30am until time of services at 10:30 am at the Riderwood Village Chapel,3110 Gracefield Rd., Silver Spring, MD. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, MD. Please leave your thoughts and memories of Claudia by signing the guestbook located to the bottom left. Service's entrusted to the George P. Kalas Funeral Home of Oxon Hill, MD.

All services are private. Please sign Sam's online guestbook by clicking on the 'sign guestbook' link above.

Nancy H. Crawford, 68, a 32 year resident of Annapolis, died at home on August 15. Nancy was born February 7, 1946 in Washington, DC to the late Jane and Jones Atkins, Jr. She worked for the Annapolis Post Office for twenty three years, then was a bus driver for special needs children for Montgomery County before becoming a caretaker for her mother. In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting, doing needlepoint, bowling, taking care of her puppy "Gibbs" and her three cats. 
She is survived by five children, Scott Gurule, Toni Olinghouse, Wendy Bragunier, Johnny Gurule and Michael Flaherty; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. 
A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. Interment is private. Donations in her memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 200 E. Joppa Rd., Ste. 407, Towson, MD 21286 OR the Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

George Nick Manis, a lifetime resident of Annapolis, passed away unexpectedly on August 13, 2014. He was 85 years old. Born in 1929 to the late Nick and Harriet Manis, George was raised by his father and stepmother, Helen Roukas. George attended Manlius Prep School and Annapolis High School where he was a star basketball player and named to the All State National Tournament Team. He went on to play point guard at the University of Maryland and graduated in 1953.
 George served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in England before returning to Annapolis to work for Western Electric as the Quality Control representative in the Maryland area. He attended the University of Baltimore Law School and served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Maryland for several years. He was a founding partner of Turk, Manis & Duckett and later of Manis, Wilkinson & Snider, et al. In 1974, George took on his first lobbying client, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. He continued lobbying on his own until he co-founded the firm of Manis, Canning & Associates in 1991 where he worked until his death.
 George’s great loves in his life were his late wife of 60 years, Anastasia, his children and grandchildren. Known to many as “Papou”, he attended and filmed every sporting event in which his grandchildren participated from little league through college. His devotion and loyalty to his family and friends was unmatched and those who were lucky enough to know him considered him a true gentleman.
 He is survived by his daughter, Harriet (Brian Adam) and his son, Nick (Stacey); five grandchildren, Jessica, Anastasia, Michele, Elizabeth and George Nicholas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anastasia, who passed away in February of this year.
 Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 17 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A prayer service will be held on Monday , August 18 at 10:30 a.m. with funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. at Ss.Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD. Interment St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery in Annapolis. A celebration of George’s life will follow at the church.
 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in George Manis’ name to support the University of Maryland Basketball Program. Please make checks payable to: UMCP Foundation/Gary Williams Point Guard Scholarship Fund (Note: In Memory of George N. Manis) and mail to: Attn: Brittany Fertig,0715 XfinityCenter, College Park, MD 20742. 
An online guestbook is available by clicking the tab on this page.

Carrie James Bassett Shelton

Carrie James Bassett Shelton, 91, a resident of Davidsonville, died on August 13, 2014 at Anne Arundel Medical Center,

Carrie was born April 29, 1923 in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Albert F. and Mary Jane Garrison Bassett. She was a homemaker and enjoyed travelling.

In addition to her parents, Carrie was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Deward E. Shelton, three brothers; Dean, John and Harvey Bassett and two sisters; Charlee Freeman and Mary Casper.

She is survived by her daughter Lynn Cara Schwalje and her husband Michael of Davidsonville, MD, her son; James E. Shelton and his wife Leslie of Germantown, MD. Also survived by her grandchildren Alexander and Nathaniel Schwalje and Gregory and Kendall Shelton.

A funeral service will be held at Fort Myer- Old Post Chapel on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 3pm.Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery.

Jeanette Caracciolo, 87, a thirty five year resident of Annapolis, died Wednesday, August 13 from lung cancer at the Mandrin Inpatient Care Center (Hospice of the Chesapeake) in Harwood. Born September 30, 1926 in Pigeon Falls, WI, Jeanette was the oldest of 8 children born to Hansel and Agnes Jacobson. She was passionate about genealogy, truly loved to travel, explore and learn with Lenny (Italy, Norway, Spain, Mexico, many cruises and more), enjoyed and appreciated the beauty of nature/gardening/wildlife and was committed to water aerobics and living a healthy life. All who knew Jeanette benefited from her skills in the kitchen as she was an amazing cook and baker and a warm and welcome host. Above all, Jeanette was a gentle and kind woman who devoted her life to loving and caring for her family.
 She is preceded in death by her son, Steve Caracciolo; grandson, David Stewart and brother, Dick Jacobson. 
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lenny Caracciolo; two daughters, Cathy Cavey and Patty (Glenn) Stewart; one daughter-in-law, Laura Caracciolo; six brothers and sisters, Marge Dykton, Bob Jacobson, Teeny Chevalier, Biss Jacobson, Roger Jacobson and Shirley Munoz; five grandchildren, Dana (Dan) Biggers, Jenna (Brandon) Clemens, Gina Stewart, Michael and Tony Caracciolo. 
A public viewing will be held on Saturday, August 23 from 9am until her funeral service begins at 11am at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. Inurnment Private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are recommended to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122. An online guestbook is available by clicking the 'sign guestbook' link above.

Funeral services will be private. The guestbook is available by clicking the tab on this page.

Donald W. Dearing, Sr. "Don" (Age 89)


 On Saturday, August 9, 2014; a resident of Fort Washington, MD for over 40 years passed away peacefully at home in the loving embrace of his wife of 46 years, Shirley, and his son, Tony, along with other family and friends surrounding him. A memorial service will be held in his honor by Fort Washington Christian Church at 10900 Indian Head Highway, Fort Washington, MD in the FWCC Chandelier Room on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 1 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD.

She passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2014; the beloved wife of Jeff Reyes; mother of Jodie Reyes; daughter of Tom and Lita Pineda; sister of Lito and Gerry "Leo" deJesus and Marie Pineda. Relatives and friends are invited to Annie's Life Celebration on Thursday and Friday, August 14 & 15 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at the GEORGE P . KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Interment Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 11:30am at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, MD.

On Thursday, August 7, 2014; Amalia Behar, the beloved wife of the late Jose Behar; loving mother to Jose Luis Behar and his fiance' Marion Denise Marshall.
Relatives and friends are invited to Amalia's Life Celebration on Sunday, August 24, 2014 from 12noon until time of services at 1:00pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland. Interment will be private. Please leave your thoughts and memoires of Amalia by signing the guestbook located above.

Family and friends are invited to Valentina's Life Celebration on Sunday, August 10 from 10am until 12pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville, MD.

All services will be private for Lloyd Dee Davis who died on August 3, 2014. 
Please return to this site later for a full obituary. In the meantime, you are welcome to sign the online guestbook for Lloyd by accessing the link on this page.

A public viewing will be held on Friday, August 8 from 2 to 4pm and 6pm until a funeral service begins at 7pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory are recommended to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122. An online guestbook is available by clicking the 'sign guestbook' link above.

Anastasia Joan Penrod, better known as Stacy, a long-time resident of Edgewater, MD, passed away on Sunday, August 3 in Riva, MD. She was 49 years old. 

Stacy was born in 1965 in Brunswick, Georgia, and moved with her family to Maryland when she was young. She grew up in Riverdale and Edgewater, MD. She lived in Annapolis from 1985 until 1999, when she moved back to Edgewater. She worked most recently at the American Legion Post 226, but spent many years in banking at SECU and Capital One Bank, and was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 226. 

Stacy was kind, open-minded, and forgiving. She saw the best in everybody, and always put others before herself. She loved the color green. She loved being around her family, and always made sure her friends felt like they were family to her. Her favorite activities were camping, concerts, baseball games, and theme parks. She said her purpose in life was to be a good mother, and she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren most of all. 

Stacy is survived by three children, Benjamin Penrod and his wife, Rachel of Windermere, FL, Charles Holman Jr. and his wife, Abigail of Crownsville, MD and Jessica Holman and her fiancé Sarah Brenholtz of Millersville, MD; five grandchildren, Philip, Oliver, Aurora, Charles 3rd, and Bartholomew; five siblings, Patrick Penrod and his wife, Susan of East Haven, CT, Reina Dawn Penrod and her husband, Michael Risher, of Riva, MD, Kennette Martin and her husband, David of Pasadena, MD, Christopher Penrod and his wife, Michelle of Frederick, MD, and Kirsten Argueta and her husband, Raul of Greenbelt, MD; her step-mother Dana Penrod, of Centreville, MD; her ex-husband, Charles Holman, Sr.; and innumerable family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth Penrod and Margaret Casey.
 
Friends are invited to Stacy's Life Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 8 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD where Stacy's funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. Interment will be private.
 
An online guestbook is available by accessing the link above.

On Sunday, August 3, 2014; the beloved wife of Francisco Sembria; mother of Franklin C. Sembria, Yasmin C. Sembria, Ferdinand C. Sembria, Erwin C. Sembria, Julius C. Sembria, Frank Anthony C. Sembria, Richard C. Sembria, Roberto C. Sembria and Luther C. Sembria. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to Elvira's Life Celebration on Friday, August 8 from 6 to 9pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, August 9 at 11:00am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church(Old Church), 13401 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD. Interment Church Cemetery.

Carolyn Virginia Cheek (née Gibson), 66, of Edgewater, MD, passed away suddenly on August 2 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She was born on October 27, 1947 in La Plata, MD to the late Elmer and Ruth Gibson.
 Carolyn loved to read, tend flowers, spend time with her family and friends, and travel with her husband, Gary, and their two cats, Whinny and Cali. She will be remembered and missed by all she knew and loved.
 Carolyn was preceded in death by one brother, John F. Gibson. She is survived by her loving husband, Gary Cheek; one aunt, Edna Gibson; three stepchildren, Robert Cheek, Jeanine Young and her husband, Dave, and Gary Cheek, Jr.; three nieces, Stacie Gibson Nolan and her husband, John, Sarah Gibson Reb and Laura Gibson Gray; two nephews, John D. Gibson and Jacob Gibson; five grandchildren, Nicole Robert, Paul Robert III, Samantha Cheek, Wesley Young, Connor Nolan and Kelsey Nolan; and one sister-in-law, Sue Cheek.
 Friends are invited to Carolyn's Life Celebration from 4 p.m. until her memorial service begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 7 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Interment will be private. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, P.O. Box 3471, Annapolis, MD 21403 or by using the link at the bottom of the left column on this page.
 An online guestbook link is available in the left column as well.

Obituaries

Leonard Larese-Casanova

Maureen Thorne

Stephen Voorhis

Theresa Suttles

Helen Poe

Oren Bruton

John Brynarsky

Claudia Wolfe

Sam Gebbia

Nancy Crawford

George Manis

Carrie Shelton

Jeanette Caracciolo

Emily Mitchell

Donald Dearing

Milane Reyes

Amalia Behar

Valentina Macarisin

Richard Murray

Lloyd Davis

Dave Liston

Anastasia Penrod

Elvira Sembria

Carolyn Cheek