Loveta I. Wilen

Loveta Haug Wilen, age 78, of Crownsville, Maryland, departed this life on August 17th, 2025. Loveta was born in Plymouth, PA on January 10th, 1947, to Irene Covaleski and Otto Haug. Although she never actually met her father, with the help of genealogical research, she determined that her father was born in Oslo, Norway, and came to America in his teens. When she was only months old, she, along with her mother and grandmother, Della Covaleski, moved to Cheverly, MD, and in 1958, she moved to Crownsville, MD, where she spent her formative years. Loveta attended St. Andrews Catholic School in Cheverly, MD, and Arundel High School in Gambrills, MD, and graduated from Grace Downs Academy in New York in 1969. Throughout her life, she remained close to her only known relatives, the Ichter family, which included her Godmother Catherine, who was a cousin of her Mother Irene. Catherine Ichter's children are Joseph Ichter, Karen O'Neill, Melissa Gutshall, John (Jack) Ichter, and William (Jeffe) Ichter. She had a brief marriage to Robert Kuhn in Annapolis in 1969. In 1976, she married Herbert Barry Wilen, helping his business grow by coordinating special events and parties. After working at the DuPont Circle Hotel for a few years in the early 80s, it was then that she realized her calling after divorcing in 1983. In 1983, Loveta became the General Manager at Paul's on the South River, a fine dining restaurant with a splendid view of the South River. Wedding and special event gatherings became her signature achievement, personalizing each group with an attention to detail and unique flourishes. She managed to do all of this whilst taking care of all the duties of a GM in a busy restaurant…. of which there were many. Along with the help of Bert Kappel (Owner), Kathy Lavelle (Asst. Manager), and Stephanie Kleso (head chef), Paul's became a well-oiled machine over the years. After Paul's was sold in 2009, she came to realize that there were so many brides and grooms who dream of a simpler wedding than most of the local venues were willing to accommodate. And so, after finding the perfect spot on General's Highway in Annapolis, MD, she opened up the Annapolis Wedding Chapel in 2010. Along with her spoiled dog (a Maltese named Lexi) and her favorite photographer Siobhan O'Brien Budnitz, she delighted wedding couples with her customized wedding ceremonies, which sometimes included pets. Yes, there was even a bulldog in a tuxedo costume who played the Best Man! Loveta liked anything new and different. (Anybody remember Hot Rocks?) If anyone were to tell her that something was impossible, she would prove them wrong at every turn. Having a green thumb, she beautified each place in her Life with lovely flowers, plants, and https://yes….even cactus ! She was told once that the cactus she had planted in the summer wouldn't survive the winter and once again, she proved them wrong! She was very proud of the fact that both Paul's on the South River and Annapolis Wedding Chapel were run by women. Of course, this pleased the brides immensely, knowing that their affair would be handled flawlessly. Loveta requested that there be no funeral service or Celebration of Life. She will be interred at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens next to her mother and grandmother. Although Loveta didn't want any pomp or pageantry, as she would say after having been in the food and beverage industry for 45 years, "Go out, have a drink, and tip generously !!"