HUNTINGTON – A 94-year-old woman, member of a well-known Williamson family, died Thursday night in what authorities described as a deadly fire at her home in Huntington.

Mary (Kish) Venturino. who had numerous relatives in the Williamson area, lived at 4522 Waverly Road, Huntington. Her body was found in the kitchen of her home and it appeared that she may have fallen while trying to escape the burning structure.

Reports from the fire marshal investigating the fire indicated that a lamp may have fallen against a curtain in the bedroom occupied by Mrs. Venturino. It was theorized that she had made her way from the bedroom to the kitchen and may have fallen after being overcome by smoke.

A niece, Debby Bowen of Chattaroy, told the Williamson Daily News that her aunt could have suffered a heart attack. She said the fire occurred about 10:30 p.m.

Mrs. Venturino’s body was taken to the state medical examiner’s in South Charleston for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Other details of the fire were not immediately available.

Mrs. Bowen and her husband, Lonnie, are retired teachers in the Mingo County school system, She and other relatives warmly praised Mrs. Venturino, describing her as a person loved by so many people and known for her kind heart.

The former Mary Kish, who was of Hungarian descent, lived in Williamson many years. Born Feb. 2, 1915, she was married at age 14 to Louis Venturino, who was 21 at the time. They later moved to Huntington where her husband worked as a machinist until his retirement and death.

The couple had two daughters, including Virginia V. Neal of Huntington and the late Rosemary V. Crawley of Florida; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Other survivors in addition to the daughter and niece, Debby Bowen, include nieces, Rose Tackett and Judy Brown of Williamson; Dina Venturino of Huntington; and Mary Venturino Huddle of Hardy, Ky.; nephews, Steve, Gary, Larry and John Venturino, all of Williamson, and Michael Venturino of Montana.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 at Reger Funeral Home and Chapel in Huntington. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington.

Visitations will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at Reger Funeral Home.