Charlene James Vener

Charlene James Vener, 77, died peacefully on October 21, 2025, in her Woodstock, Georgia home after a brave battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She was a unique "force of nature" and is survived by her sister, Lillian Lurye, of Glen Ellyn, IL, and her son, David Vener, of New York, NY.

Charlene was born in April 1948, in Danville, Pennsylvania, and spent her formative years in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, a small coal mining town where her late parents, Alice and Martin James, owned and operated a well-known women's clothing store.

Charlene studied zoology at Penn State University and became a medical technologist soon thereafter. In 1982, she moved to metro Atlanta where she truly put down roots as a trusted employee at Northside Hospital, faithful early member (and adult Bat Mitzvah) of Temple Kol Emeth, devoted aunt to Leah and Jessica, and proud "band mom" to David.

After Lillian's family moved to Indiana and David moved to Boston, Charlene deepened her ties to the local community, maintaining many close friendships in both expected and unexpected ways. She also acted as roommate and later primary caregiver to her mother, Alice, who had developed Alzheimer's Disease. Charlene met Thanh My in 2002 and then Annie in 2015, who would both become like adult daughters to Charlene, sharing all kinds of family milestones and holidays with her.

As her health deteriorated in recent years, Charlene was blessed with family, friends and professional caregivers who stood by her faithfully while she fought against ALS in her way. She was never going to "go gentle into that good night," but her extended family is heartened by all of the people who took this path with us, saw past her tough outer layer, and were positively impacted by her.

Charlene's memory will be held dearly by her son David, his wife, Ellen Weinstein, and their children, Elijah and Miriam; her sister Lillian, her husband Donald Lurye, their daughters Leah Murphy and Jessica Felch, sons-in-law Edward Murphy and Benjamin Felch, and their grandchildren Sabrina Murphy, Connor Murphy and Hannah Felch; her "adopted" daughter Thanh My Nguyen, her husband Son Nguyen and their daughter Angie; her "adopted" daughter Annie Nguyen, her husband Billy Phang and their son Alex; and dear friends and neighbors from various stages of her life.

In addition to her family-oriented activities, Charlene loved Broadway shows; old movies; and collecting owl figurines and other trinkets. She also was an active member of Temple Kol Emeth, where she volunteered in the office and helped with various other projects. Most importantly, when the temple needed a Torah, she reached out to her grandfather Jacob Romisher in Shamokin where the local synagogue donated one of their Torahs to Temple Kol Emeth.

Charlene's family is currently making plans for a memorial event and will provide details when available. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Temple Kol Emeth General Fund in her honor. Arrangements by Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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