Ann Ventura
Ann Lorraine Harmon Ventura, 78, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, died, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday July 14, 2015 while under the care of the attentive and compassionate staff at Alexian Brothers Health and Rehabilitation Facility and Hospice of Chattanooga.
Born May 4, 1937, in Orange, N.J., she was the second youngest of seven children of Leonard and Mary Harmon. A 1955 graduate of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic High School, she married James R. Ventura of West Orange, and had three sons. She was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.
Ann and her family also lived in Decatur, Ga., Coral Springs and Tampa, Fl., Seattle, and Boston. She enjoyed travel having visited London, Paris, Hawaii and Japan. She took great pride in her three sons who all followed their father's example and served for various times in the U.S. Navy. She loved and nurtured her grandchildren and new great-grandson and looked forward to holidays and family gatherings. Ann was a devout Catholic and volunteered for many ministries through the years. She was an avid reader, loved gardening and also enjoyed playing bridge with her many dear friends on Signal Mountain where she resided for 31 years.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Joan Domalewski, Peggy Smiley, and Mary Alice Naspinsky.
She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 60 years, James R. Ventura of Signal Mountain; her three sons, Michael (Linda) of Jacksonville, Fl.; James, Jr. of Puyallup, Wa., and Richard of Orlando; grandchildren, Christopher Ventura of San Francisco, Carisa Ventura Watts, Aaron Ventura, and Jennifer Payne of Jacksonville, and Jana Mae Ventura of Seattle; great-grandson, Tristan Michael Watts; and brothers, Bill and Larry Harmon, and sister, Elaine Schwieghardt.
Donations may be made in Ann's name to Hospice of Chattanooga or St Augustine Catholic Church, Signal Mountain.
Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
The family will receive friends to remember and celebrate Ann’s life from 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, at the funeral home.
A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 17, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Signal Mountain. Interment will follow in the parish columbarium.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn.