Judith Ventrella

Judith Ann "Judy" (Leonard) Ventrella of Germantown, OH, age 83, passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, August 9, 2023. She was born June 25, 1940 in Middletown, OH to Estel Earl "Pete" and Hazel Marie (Allen) Leonard. She grew up in Ohio and Florida before moving to California, then returning to Ohio in the 1980s.

Judy started her working years attending nursing school and being capped in 1959. After marrying her first husband, she left nursing as they moved to California. Once there, Judy found her place in office work. Eventually, she became a bookkeeper and spent most of the past 50 years in that field.

After marrying her second husband and giving birth to her daughter, Anna, Judy worked with her husband in their plant, gift, and antique shop, "The Junque Yard", in La Habra, CA. In addition to bookkeeping for the store, she also made many macrame items, including plant holders and wall hangings decorated with ceramic beads.

Judy learned to sew from her mother, Hazel, and was an accomplished seamstress, as well as quilter. She enjoyed machine appliqué and created a number of beautiful items for family, friends, and craft fairs. In the early 2000s, while attending Parkview UMC in Miamisburg, OH, she founded a quilt ministry whose mission was making one of a kind quilts for shut-ins, those suffering illnesses, and others in need of a hug.

Since 2001, Judy had bravely battled metastatic breast cancer and, since 2021, endometrial cancer. After many bouts of chemo and hormone therapy, she had had enough of the side effects, near constant scans and tests, hospitalizations, and doctor's appointments. Choosing to forgo further invasive treatments for more quality of life, in 2022 Judy entered hospice at home. We are grateful for their care and support over the past year.

She is survived by her daughter, Anna Ventrella; cousins Connie, Jane, Kay, and Tommy; five step children, many step grandchildren and great grandchildren; numerous friends and other family members in Ohio, as well as California.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald "Dominic" Paul Ventrella; her sister Bonnie Esterline; cousins Bob, Joan, Barb, Jean, Sue, Teddy, and Jerry; and two step grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to be made to Ohio's Hospice of Dayton Foundation, 7575 Paragon Rd., Dayton, OH 45459.

Private services Arpp, Root, & Carter Funeral Home, 29 N. Main St., Germantown, OH 45327.