Mary Francis Marinello, age 65, of Knox (Bass Lake), passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2020 in the early morning hours at LaPorte Hospital.
Mary was born August 28, 1954 in Chicago. Her parents were Katherine Panozzo Marinello and Leon D. Marinello. Mary married Vincent Venckus on April 4, 1975, they then moved to Las Vegas and had three children, Katherine, Joseph and James. She moved back to Bass Lake in 2001 and resided the rest of her days where her father and brother had built their first cottage in 1943. Mary loved people, dancing and karoke in her younger days. She enjoyed working as a card dealer and had worked for many years at the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas. After moving back to Indiana, she continued that work at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo. She also worked as a realtor for Welcome Mat Realty. Mary especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved them so very much and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them.
Mary is survived by her children, Katherine Patricia Venckus, Joseph Venckus (Lauri) and James Venckus, 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, and her brother, Lee Marinello. She was preceded in death by her parents Katherine Panozzo Marinello and Leon Marinello (Patricia), her sister Dorreen Leah Marinello, and her ex-husband, Vince Venckus.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 15, 2020 at 7pm, with visitation two hours prior to services, at M.C. Smith Funeral Home. Memorial contributions can be made to the funeral home to help with expenses.
