Obituary: Venke H. Fehlis, 77, Of Danbury And Wilton

Information and Photo Courtesy Magner Funeral Home

DANBURY, CT — Venke H. Fehlis was born in Oslo on January 30, 1945, to Else Johanne "Lillimor" Schaug and Heindrick Fehlis. She had many last names, Schaug, Admunsen, as her mother had many marriages and ultimately DeVivo, herself through her own marriage. She changed her name to Fehlis after she learned the truth about her real father and the existence of her brother in her 40s.

She travelled to the United States in 1966, where she became an au pair, but soon thereafter met her husband, Mario DeVivo. They resided in Danbury and they had their only son, Joe. Together, Mario and Venke built a very successful business, putting her natural leadership and finance skills to work managing the office while Mario ran the business. They moved to Wilton together and continued to succeed, but in 1989 they divorced.

Venke then went on to start a spa, BodiFerier in Greenwich. It was at that time she found her half-brother, Peter Fehlis, in Germany. She chose to travel to see him in Germany, and his family graciously welcomed her with open arms while learning the full truth about her father. She chronicles her experience in her book "Venke: Surviving the Naked Truth about My Father," which she completed later in life with help from acclaimed writer Malcolm Nicholl. Venke was a truth teller, had incredibly sage advice for anyone who sought it, was a fierce protector of those she loved and had an entertaining and biting wit.

She is survived by her son, Joe and her five grandchildren, Michael, Joey, Christian, Emily and Matthew.

Her family will receive friends on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 5-7 p.m. at the Magner Funeral Home 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, with a prayer service, officiated by Pastor Robert Beinke, to begin at 6PM. For directions, or to send a message of condolence to her family, please visit: www.Magnerfuneralhome.com