Tena Vetor

Tena Vetor was born in El Paso, Texas into the home of her adoptive parents Glen and Evalyn Vetor. Her family moved back to Marion, Indiana where she played trumpet in the marching band, graduated from Marion High School, and made fast friendships with people who would stick by her side for over 50 years.

As a young adult, Tena answered an ad in the newspaper for a “Girl Friday” at a photography studio; and later wearing a gray and pink power suit, she expanded that opportunity into a lifelong career as a top-of-the-field photographic assistant, lab technician and during the digital age a post-production magician, often summoned with the phrase, “Oh don’t worry, Tena can fix that!”

She spent her free time loving on others by showering them with material gifts and buying them meals (who doesn’t love a good meal!) and worrying constantly about those she loved. She enjoyed pets of all sorts, overcooked foods, and spoiling children as if she was their grandmother by blood. She loved just the graham cracker crust of cheesecake, every card game on the planet, St Augustine Florida, the East Coast, and $2 Tuesdays at the state fair in 100° weather.

We lost Tena after a very brief battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, and her fur babies Patches Louis and Harley Davidson (a dog who couldn’t hold his licker). She is also preceded in death by Wayne and Louise Huttsell, who seamlessly incorporated her into their family after losing her own parents. She is survived by many family members of choice, including Becky, Peg, Meghan, Giege, Jill, James, and Lesle. Those who call her “Nana” include Connor, Luna, Kendrick, Tobi, and Charlotte Evelyn – the memory of her mother living on.

The family she chose – and who chose to love her right back – will miss her hugs, feisty attitude, bossiness, and problem-solving capabilities. They will miss sending her inappropriate memes, making her an extra pan of cheesy potatoes around the holidays, and her family recipe of cranberry salad. They will not miss being obligated to attend the world’s largest garage sale with her each and every year.

The family will be hosting a calling and service for Tena. If attending the service, please wear her favorite color, yellow, in her honor. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the Humane Society for Hamilton County (https://www.hamiltonhumane.com) or Kiva (https://www.kiva.org)

As a final caveat, no matter how afraid you might be, Tena would want you to get your mammogram so that the people you love don’t have to lose you too soon.