Maria Florence Luna Venarske

She graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1965 and began attending the University of Houston in the fall.

In 1964, she began dating James Venarske, a fellow member of All Saints Catholic Church, after the two began working together at Studewood Food Mart. They married July 9, 1966. The next Monday, they moved to Bedford, MA, where Jim was in the Air Force. Maria worked during that time at Raytheon.

In 1970, Jim left the Air Force, and the couple moved back to Houston for Jim to finish school at U of H. Meanwhile, Maria worked at Bell Telephone and Winegartens.

In 1974, Maria and Jim moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where their first child was born. In 1976, Maria decided the snow was too much for her, and the family moved back to Houston. There she raised three children and then returned to school to finish her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education at the University of St. Thomas. Upon graduating Summa Cum Laude, she taught at Valley Oaks Elementary School and retired after 17 years. She enjoyed retirement by traveling, taking enrichment classes from Third Age, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Salvador Luna. She is survived by her loving husband, James Venarske, her children Daniel Venarske and his wife Nancy, John Venarske, Katherine Lubinski and her husband Mark; grandchildren Nathaniel, Eli, and Elizabeth Venarske and Andrew and Lillian Lubinski; four brothers and three sisters as well as many other loving relatives and friends. The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Heights Funeral Home. The vigil service and rosary will begin at 4:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2014, 10am at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St, Houston, TX 77008.