Edmund John Kapelczak

Edmund is survived by his wife, Helen Kapelczak: sons; John Kapelczak, Stephen Kapelczak, Michael Kapelczak, and Edmund Kapelczak: daughters; Maureen Kapelczak, Esther Kapelczak, Mary Kapelczak, Julie Kapelczak, D'Neane Liebentritt, and Theresa Kapelczak: 9 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm.

Funeral Mass will be Wedneday, June 23, 2010, at 10:00 am at St. Rita Catholic Church.

Arrangements under the direction of Goodbody Mortuary, San Diego, CA.

MEMORIAL EULOGY

Our Dad was born in Akron, Ohio to Polish immigrants on August 2nd, 1914. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942. He was in the Navy for 22 years & had a great love for serving his country. Once he retired from the service he entered the work world as an electronics engineer. For a short time he was also a teacher & did repair work on restaurant heavy duty equipment.

He loved going to the Polish polka dances & he loved music. He showed us how to dance & how to laugh but most of all he showed us how to love & how to show mercy towards everyone. One of his favorite scriptures was: “Love your enemies & do good to those who hate you”. He was so thankful, even through his sufferings.

As Father said earlier, my Dad was here from the beginning & was instrumental in building this church. He built some of the pews that you are sitting in today. And at the age of 75 Dad became a Eucharistic Minister.

Dad would have been married 64 years come this July 3rd. He had a great love for family & we had a great love for him. We know we were blessed to have him for so many years.

Here are a few words from his ten children & wife. This is who he was to us:

John: Dad You were there for me

When I needed to talk to someone you were there for me

When I needed to know something you were there for me

When things went wrong for me you were there for me

When I did not understand you were there for me

When I got hurt you were there for me

When I needed help you were there for me

When I was good or bad you were there for me

You were always there for me

Steve: Whenever I wanted to talk to dad he always found the energy to respond even through his most difficult exhausting times.......he endured his ordeals silently and always was up beat and positive and supportive he was always a good mentor and you always felt better after talking with dad.

Maureen: Dad was generous with his time & encouragement. He was thoughtful in so many ways sending letters & cards on all occasions ending with "God bless you."

Mike: Dad was kind & comforting. He always had an uplifting word & was always there to help in whatever I needed. Dad was protective: he did what was best for our safety & security. He stood on my side even when I was in the wrong.

Esther: Dad, you taught me so much about love by the way you lived. You were the best father a girl could have! When I asked him, he said that the greatest gift he ever gave to his children was the gift of his Catholic faith & he always prayed for all of us for God’s best. He would hug us & tell us that he loved us to pieces& he loved us forever, that everything was going to be ok, always giving us the thumbs up!

Mary: Dear Dad, You were the epitome of the unconditional love that everyone is always searching for in this world- no conditions, no condemnation. We were so blessed to have such a great example of a loving father. . . It's been said that kindness is the highest form of wisdom & you consistently exercised that wisdom with everyone you came in contact with. Thank you for all of the sayings you had and especially for the "I love you forever" saying ‘cause that will help us know that you are with us always and forever. So, Dad I love you forever and we will all see you again sooner than we know. . . . until then, we'll keep working in this world for the kingdom of the next . . .

Ed: Dad you were the most patient man in the world.

Julie:

Things I remember:

His sharp humorous wit that made me laugh through the good and bad times and how he could make you forget all your problems for a while.

His attitude in everything he did, even when he took his shipmates trash duty and called it an extra workout.

His kindness towards everyone no matter their class or situation and that he never had an ill word to say about anyone

The way he put his best effort in everything he did.

That I always thought he was a saint and an example of what a man should be.

I found a card recently that sums up the strength and accuracy of my father's words with that touch of humor he put into everything. At the toughest time of my life, my parents wrote me a card, in the card my Mom said beautiful, supportive, concerned words, and Dad wrote one line to me, and to this day it still makes me smile. It said, "The law of holes: When you are in one, Stop Digging!" During hard times, he would say to me, "Julie, things never stay the same, just pray for blessings, and not for what you want, but what God wants." Dad, you were and still are my rock, my best Friend, my favorite comedian, and the wisest, kindest man that ever walked this earth, a light that kept the path lit for me, and now you are probably telling jokes, listening to your Spanish music that you loved so much, and dancing to your favorite polkas in heaven.

D’neane:

MY MIRACLE DAD:

The one: that the doctors were always amazed with who lived 95+ years and never looked or acted his age.

The one: with the radio on, listening to football, baseball or the infamous Rush

The one: driving Mom to shopping or to the doctor

The one: taking care of everyone in any way he could

The one: dancing the Polka with his arm high up in the air

The one: with a smile on his face and always in his heart

The one: who NEVER complained!

The one: who said I AM FINE, no matter what!

The one: who could strike up a conversation with ANYONE!

The one: who taught me to be a good Catholic, not to be wasteful, and to be positive.

The one: who always said “Pray for God’s Will to Be Done”

Dad you are now with the Lord and you are now my GUARDIAN ANGEL and my MIRACLE DAD looking down from HEAVEN rather than here on earth, still guiding me.

As you have always said to me and I say to you NOW---“Z Bogiem - and I will love you forever.”

Keep sending those balloons!

Therese: My Daddy went to heaven. Have fun! Don’t worry, be happy!

Love you! Bye sweetheart!

And from your #1sweetheart, our Mom:

You were the most wonderful person I ever knew! You never argued with me. Thanks for all the laughs. It kept us young & happy! I’ll miss you but one day we will meet again. Love you forever! Z Bogiem!!

Eddie:

My 'Great' Grandpa

My grandpa was like a dad to me.

I remember the times he used to turn on his radio and listen to Spanish songs while I sat on his lap.

I remember when he drank his favorite soda (Fanta, Gingerale, and Root Beer).

My grandpa told stories of his past time as a sailor when he beat the big sailor on his ship.

I remember his crackerjacks and dates he ate.

I remember his Ramon noodles, and how he was so like Jesus in everything, he went to church every weekend he could, and trusted in God.

Tyler, Dominique, Juliana:

All: Hi, we’re grandpa’s grandkids.

Tyler: We remember grandpa sitting in his recliner watching the Green Bay Packers beat all the other NFL teams.

Domi: We also remember that he would take seeds from an avocado and an apple and

Tyler: the next thing we knew there were huge apple and avocado trees in his backyard.

Domi: He’s had his ups and down his yahs and neighs with his health, but he is still the best ever!

Julzie: My mom asked grandpa to make sure to stay around until our graduation. She also asked him to send us a sign such as balloons flying in the air to let us know that he was OK in HEAVEN. The day grandpa went to heaven was our graduation day. Just before the graduation ceremony began a balloon floated in the air. And when it was over he had another balloon float by. Which we feel was his way of congratulating us.

Domi: Wow! Grandpa is the best ever!

All: As grandpa would always say “Don’t smile.” J He will be in our hearts always and forever!

Zeek:

Grandpa. I think he’s really happy and excited all the time, now he’s up there.

Always remember him in your heart and never forget him.

So if you believe in God when you die you’ll go up with Grandpa and you’ll probably be happy because you will be with your Grandpa again.

Like Grandpa always says: Remember NO SMILING!