Veneta Marie Leonard

Veneta Marie Leonard, 51 of Valparaiso, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, February 24, 2024. She was born March 31, 1972 in Hammond, Indiana the daughter of Donald & Cathy (Simmons) Novakovich, graduated from George Washington High School on Chicago’s Eastside, and received a B.S. in Business Management from St. Joseph College in Whiting. Veneta was a member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Center in Valparaiso where her deep faith in God was nurtured. It was this faith in God and her dedication to her husband and children that propelled her life, always relying on her favorite saying of “It’s for the children” when deferring personal attention or care in favor of the next generation.

On April 1, 1995 she married Peter “Jeremy” Leonard who survives along with their fourteen children; Peter “Mason” (Zaina) Leonard, Noah Leonard, Jenna Leonard, Lauren (Cody) Carlin, Logan (Taylor) Leonard, Karter Leonard, Shayne Leonard, Rylee Leonard, Chloe Leonard, Lacey Leonard, Mary Leonard, Gabriel Leonard, Charlotte Leonard & Elliott Leonard, her mother, Cathy Novakovich, sisters; Debra (Frank) Roberts & Emma Novakovich, grandchildren; Serenity, Owen, Silas & River (with two more coming soon), mother-in-law, Kathleen (James) Barr, father-in-law, Peter (Nancy) Leonard, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Novakovich.