Lovena Lynn (Skinner) Johnson

Lovena Lynn (Skinner) Johnson, 65, of Hammond, IN, passed away unexpectedly on March 10, 2026, in Robinson, IL. Born on July 8, 1960, in Hammond, IN, she came into the world with a spirit that could never be mistaken for anyone else's. She was a woman with strong opinions, a larger-than-life presence, and a personality that could effortlessly light up a room. She was, in the truest sense, a firecracker. She meant business, and those who knew her best would probably tell you that there was no living with her sometimes. And yet, that was never the whole story. Because tucked inside that strong will was a heart of gold. She carried a lot in life, more than many people ever knew, but she never let her burdens keep her from helping others. If anything, those burdens seemed to deepen her compassion. She was selfless, generous, and always ready to open her heart to someone who needed it.

Needless to say, if she loved you, you knew it. Lovena was the kind of person who gave freely, sometimes more freely than she should have. She loved buying things for the people she cared about, and if someone wanted something, she was liable to find a way to get it for them. Truth be told, she would rather fall behind on her own bills than miss the chance to spoil somebody she loved. That was simply who she was. Her generosity was not cautious or calculated. It was instinctive. Family meant everything to her, and she had a special fondness for her great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, as well as her friends' kids and grandkids, whom she loved as if they were her own. Time with them brought something out in her. Around them, she was not just Lovena. She was "Aunt Veenie-Weenie," and that title fit her in a way no formal one ever could.

But the truth is, whether you knew her through family or through work, Lovena had a way of leaving her mark on people. For years, she was a familiar face at Howard Cab, where she worked for Robert and Karen Eveland, two people who became a meaningful part of her life. Over the course of her time there, she wore many hats. She drove a taxi cab, then drove vans for people with disabilities and for children, and eventually worked as a dispatcher near the end of her tenure there. Later, she worked for years as a cashier at the Hammond Wal-Mart, and then at Flex-N-Gate in Chicago. In the final years of her husband Alvin's life, she stepped away from work to care for him at home. No matter where life placed her, and no matter what job she was doing, she left an impression. She mattered to people. She made a mark.

And really, that should come as no surprise. Lovena was not the kind of person anyone forgot easily. She had a distinctive laugh, the kind that was contagious and impossible not to notice. Her smile had a way of lingering in people's memories, and so did her energy. She was the life of every family gathering, the one whose presence could shape the whole atmosphere of a room. There was just something about her that rubbed off on people in the best way. She could sit and have coffee with the older folks, turn around and laugh with the teenagers, and then somehow make the little ones feel just as seen and loved. She adjusted herself to whoever was around, meeting people where they were, which made her both adaptable and unforgettable. It was a quality that shaped more than her relationships. It shaped the way she lived. Lovena had a way of going with the flow, taking people and moments as they came.

But when it came to the house, that flow had better not leave a mess behind! Lovena liked things clean, and that may be putting it mildly. She was, by every account, a true clean freak, someone who took pride in having things neat, orderly, and just so. It was one of those details that fit her perfectly. She could be easygoing with people and flexible with plans, but she also knew exactly how she wanted her space to feel. And that space was made all the warmer by the people she loved most. Lovena wasn't one for going out unless she had to. She would much rather have people come over to her place, where the pool could be open and food could be sizzling on the grill. She knew how to make people feel welcome, and she had a way of making time together feel memorable.

And among all those who passed through her home and shared in her world, one small companion held a place all his own. Bandit, her faithful service dog, was by her side for nearly fifteen years. She brought him home when he was just a little fuzzball, and through the years, he became so much more than a pet. He was her sidekick, a steady presence through the years. Those who knew them know just how lost he is without her. In many ways, the same could be said for all who loved her.

For all her layers, for all her toughness and tenderness, Lovena was one of those rare people who could be difficult and beautiful all at once. There was a tension in her, but there was beauty in that tension, too. She could be stubborn, strong-willed, and absolutely unmovable, but she was also loving, sacrificial, and full of life. She gave people stories to tell, laughter to remember, and love they will carry with them for years to come. Hers was not a quiet life, and it was not meant to be. It was colorful, complicated, generous, fierce, and full of heart. It was, in every way, her own.

Left to cherish her memory is her uncle, Larry Skinner; her sister, Alice (Skinner) Burkmire; her sister-in-law, Karen (Skinner) Tyree; her nieces and nephews, Jaimee (Skinner) Williams, Melaine Williams, James Skinner, Brittnay Burkmire, Tiffany Burkmire, Robert Jaronski, Jerahmy Rodriguez, Marion (Houx) Sanabria, and Lawrence Houx, Jr; numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews; and her special granddaughter, Endya. She was preceded in death by her parents, Orvis Skinner and Gloria (King) Houx; her husband, Alvin Johnson; her daughter, Christina Skinner; her brothers, Thomas Skinner, James Skinner, and Lawrence Houx; and her sisters, Sarah Skinner and Anna Houx.

A family-guided service will be held in Hammond, IN, on Saturday, March 28th. Service details are forthcoming. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is assisting the family at this time. Memorials may be made to her memorial fund, and donations may be made online at https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.