Eva Grace Vencato

Eva Grace Vencato (Sorensen), 86, of Houghton, MI, passed away peacefully on March 10th, 2024, under the care of all the amazing staff at Portage Pointe Care Facility, with a special thanks to Nora Huhta.

Eva was born on November 19th, 1937, in Watersmeet, MI to Chester and Lena Sorensen. She grew up in a logging camp with her 9 siblings where she developed her love for nature. She received her teaching degree from Northern Michigan University and met her amazing husband to be of 64 years during that time. Eva married John Vencato on June 27th, 1959.

She taught in the Hancock school system for a few years before becoming an amazing stay at home mom to her 3 kids, as well as providing a gathering place for friends and neighbor kids. Everyone was welcome in the Vencato home for a meal, emotional support, or even a haircut. Eva returned to full time teaching and was a beloved kindergarten teacher in the Houghton school district for nearly 20 years.

Eva will be remembered by her loved ones as an enthusiast of sweet treats, flowers, animals, birds, and books. Her memory will last in the Houghton/Hancock community as a loving kindergarten teacher to many. She was an active member of the Church of the Resurrection, where she crocheted prayer shawls and provided food for many funeral services. Her famous chicken wing and spaghetti sauce recipes will live on in her memory. Eva was a talented seamstress who sewed three intricate and beautiful wedding dresses for her daughter and bonus daughters and cozy baby blankets for her grandchildren.

Her sweet smile, contagious laugh, and gift of hospitality touched and blessed countless lives. We deeply feel her absence.

Preceded in death by her parents, brothers Sam Sorensen, Chester Sorensen, Lawrence Sorensen, and sister Mary Cook.

Survived by her husband, John; sons Louis (Cynthia Drake) Vencato, Paul (Lynn) Vencato, and daughter Ann (Mike) Naasko; sisters Joan Jacobs, Clara Martin, Fay Groitzsch, and brother Allan Sorensen; grandchildren Rhonda (Bri Lareau) Williamson, Vanessa (Austin) Handley, Paige Naasko, Cole Naasko, and bonus grandchildren Jeff (JM Downey) Backman, and Justina Carver; and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 15th from 5 until 7 P.M. when a parish prayer service will be held at the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock. Spring burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to Little Brothers~Friends of the Elderly in Hancock or to 31 Back Packs. To leave online condolences, please go to oenilldennisfh.com.  

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