Verna Jeanne Novack

Verna Jeanne Kitts Novack died Friday June 25th at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. She was 70 years of age and is survived by her husband, Edgar Novack of Centreville MD, sister Linda Kitts Bennett and her husband Richard Bennett of Palm Desert CA, and daughters Michele Novack of Bowie MD, Teresa Ashburn and her husband David Ashburn of Lothian MD, Jeanmarie Richardson and her partner Steven Katz of Queenstown MD; son-in-law Michael Fowler of Pasadena MD, and grandchildren Rachel Fowler, Zach Ashburn, Zoe Ashburn. She was preceded in death by daughter Monica Fowler and parents Vernon and Virginia Ann Kitts, who relocated to Maryland during WWII. Although born in a southern WV coal town, Jeanne lived her entire life here in Maryland. As a teenager, she was inspired by female community leaders and attended Baltimore’s Eastern High School and then went on to the University of Maryland for a degree in Education before marrying her husband in 1960 and raising a family of four daughters in Anne Arundel County. She always sought to ensure all of her children and grandchildren had good educations. Jeanne taught at schools in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and later Anne Arundel County. She also sold Real Estate in Anne Arundel County for many years until she retired in 1995 to her home in Severna Park. Jeanne loved to travel here in the US and to Mexico and Europe, but the summers spent at Ocean City with family and friends were best. She hosted and cooked for many memorable holiday gatherings. She was very active with the Art Appreciation Club at the AACounty Senior’s Center in Arnold. Before relocating to Centreville in Queen Anne’s County in 2004, Jeanne developed an interest in quilting, received generous mentorship, and went on to produce many award-winning quilts. In more recent years, she was an active leader among quilting groups in both Anne Arundel and Talbot counties and taught many friends and neighbors in Symphony Village the skills that produced so much joy and happiness for her. She truly enjoyed her family, friends, and neighbors during these more recent years, and was thrilled to celebrate 50 years of marriage this past January. Her motto was “life is an adventure or nothing.” The family has arranged for visitation from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Wednesday, June 30 at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Centreville. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday July 1 at 11am at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, 303 Chesterfield Ave, Centreville. A luncheon reception will follow the service at the church hall. Donations in memory of Jeanne may be made to St. Martin’s Ministries, 14259 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely MD 21660.

Verna Jeanne Novack

October 22, 1939 - June 25, 2010