Elena Vinar

Elena Vinar, of Frederick MD, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, passed away October 17th from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was 80.

Born Elena Panella, on July 22, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Theresa (del Erario) Panella and Amedio Panella, Elena grew up on Long Island. After high school, she began working as a secretary for the U.S. Government.

During this time, she also pursued a career in radio with a syndicated radio show called “Letters from Lee”, using her nickname of Lee for her on-air persona, that was broadcast on Armed Forces Radio as well as locally, during the Vietnam War. She had a beautiful voice and sang in USO shows, as well as cutting an album of love songs called “Where There Is Love, There Is Elena”, and an untitled long playing album of songs for Gotham Records.

Elena also hosted a daytime children’s show called “GO!” for a period of time, as well as another children’s show she co-created entitled “Kiddie Ciddie”.

During her time as a government secretary, she met a young Lieutenant in the Army, Kenn Vinar. They were married in 1971 and went on to have three sons and to adopt a daughter.

Her great love of people led Elena into careers in cosmetic sales and insurance, as well as a flourishing cake and candy business she conducted for many years. She was also active in her church and often made cakes and candies for different events.

Elena’s greatest love was her family. She is survived by her brother, Vincent Panella and his wife Pearl Elion, of Long Island, New York. Her daughter, Char Vinar of Clayton, North Carolina.
Her sons; Jonathan Vinar and his wife Julie of Villa Rica, Georgia, Christopher Vinar and his wife Amy, of Brunswick, Maryland and Jeremy Vinar and his wife Ashley of Monrovia, Maryland, as well as her nieces Lee Ann Panella and Nadine Ortega, both of New York.

Dearest to her heart were her grandchildren; Joshua Fortner of Phoenix, Arizona, Keaton Vinar, Logan Vinar and Kaden Vinar of Villa Rica, Georgia, and Carter Vinar, Lucy Vinar and Cora Vinar of Brunswick, Maryland, as well as her great-grandchildren; Dane Fortner, Evelyn Fortner and Raelyn Fortner of Phoenix Arizona and Daniel Avery and Autumn Fortner of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Elena was preceeded in death by her parents, Theresa Panella and Amedio Panella, her brother, Anthony Panella, her husband, Kenn Vinar and her granddaughter, Brianna Fortner.

Visitation will be at Keeney and Basford Funeral Homes, P.A., 106 E. Church Street, Frederick, MD, on Tuesday, October 25th, from 4-7pm. Her funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 26th, at 11:00am, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd Street, Frederick, MD, followed by the interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.