Candida "Connie" Papa

Candida M Papa passed away on Friday, at her residence surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Daquschonda, Pa, daughter of the late James and Filomena Vigilante. She was married on July 1, 1946 to John Caesar Papa (deceased).

She is survived by her son, John B. Papa, her daughter in law, Pauline V. Kaczor, her sister, Nina Adams along with many nieces and nephews.

Connie graduated Ridgeway H.S. and worked for Sylvania lighting during WWII. She eventually worked in the restaurant industry after she married.

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 - Viewing 1:00 PM and Mass 1:30 at Church of the Annunciation, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Reception 3:00 PM at Village on the Green Clubhouse.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to The Life Space Foundation- designated for Assisted Living at the OAKS. Village on the Green, 500 Village Place, Longwood, FL 32779.

Link to Funeral Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Bc5uet4gY

Connie Papa Annunciation Catholic Church - https://annunciationorlando.org www.youtube.com

Additional information - https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/altamonte-springs-fl/candida-papa-11625380

Candida "Connie" Papa

OCTOBER 3, 1922 – JANUARY 12, 2024

Family Background

She had a younger sister Virginia Loso, that is deceased, and older Sister Nina that is still alive in Indiana at the age of 102. Connie’s parents were Italian descent located outside of Rome. Born in Daquschonda, Pennsylvania and raised in nearby town by her parents in Ridgeway Pa. Her father worked on maintenance for the Elliot Company and her mother took care of the children and did canning, made her own pasta and managed the finances.

Special points of interest of childhood:

Growing up: Connie remembers her family having a large vegetable garden and walking with her father to pick wild raspberries and blueberries. Natural Spring water from the mountains was memorable. Walking in snow many miles to school was a common story. Her favorite past-time as a child was reading a book and eating an apple next to a warm fireplace.

When and Why did He/she move to this area

Connie and her husband John Ceasar Papa moved to Altamonte Springs, Florida in 1983 from Yardley, PA. upon retiring to be with Connie’s father and her sister Virginia that moved to Florida and of course the warmer weather.

Brief Statement of Career.

Connie graduated from Ridgeway PA High School and was really happy to go back to the various re-unions every 5 years to re-unite with friends. She worked at Sylvania factories during WWII building light bulbs on a factory assembly line and eventually was promoted to assist in opening new plant locations. After getting married in July 1946 after John returned from the war (no formal tiered wedding cake as sugar was rationed - her mother improvised to extent possible). She relocated to her husband’s hometown of Trenton, NJ.

She became a waitress at some popular restaurants in Trenton, NJ and eventually was part owner of a dress shop with a friend, one memorable event while shopping for clothes for the shop in New York City, she got stuck on elevator in Manhattan during the 60s NY City Big Black-out that closed down the city for 24 hours. She eventually returned as a waitress and then a banquet hostess for large weddings and venues for a popular restaurant back in the day called Cedar Gardens in Mercerville, NJ. Many know her for her food demonstrations at Costco, that she began years after her husband had passed away. She finally stopped working, as her supervisor who was younger was retiring. Connie stopped at age 89.

Marriage and Family ( how couple met, years married )

Her future husband (unknown at that time) brought up a record player, as a friend of his was coming to see her sister – Nina and his friend asked him to take a ride with him and mentioned that Nina has a sister he may want to meet. At that time, it was an 8-hour ride.

Her future husband (John) and his friends were into the big bands and danced where they visited. They met each other, and John kept pursuing Connie. Right before he went to war, he proposed to Connie and shortly after then he and many of his brothers and friends’ husbands went to WWII. They all came back, amazingly, and all were lifelong friends. After the war, married John C. July 1946. Were married until her husband’s death in 1993 (53 years) at the age of 71.

They had one son, John Baptista (Son- John’s first name after his father’s grandfather and middle name after Connie’s father), John (son) was the only child.

What did you most admire about the person:

Strong will-power to keep moving and loved spending time with family and friends.

Favorite sayings:

When Connie was at Village on the Green (VOTG) she sometimes would call us to remind us about her coffee order. Typically would say: When can I expect the coffee to be delivered from Amazon, I only have 2 K-Cups left?

Favorite pastimes:

She was part of bowling group, St. Patrick’s Women’s Circle, and at Village on the Green – BINGO! Played poker and other card games especially when she was younger. Always read books and articles. Later in life really liked the “Reader Digest” Short Stories. Always told us about stories she read and what was happening in the newspaper.

Spiritual strengths that show how faith influenced his/her way of life

Devote Catholic, daily prayers typically at 3:00pm like novenas, her son remembers as a child into adulthood.

Would he/she have any words of wisdom for us.

Take care of yourself and do your best every day to enjoy life, keep moving and exercise. She practiced that until her passing…

Who cared for the deceased:

Much Gratitude to all the amazing individuals that assisted her and allowed her to have quality of life - Dr. Gomez (her primary), Dr. Frutchey (eye doctor), Dr Papais (dentist and amazing assistances) Acupuncturist (Dr. Yin), Robyn (PT) & Kevin Rose (MT), Dr Lee Stillson (DO), Carla Clark (VOTG Nursing Director), All the amazing nurses at Village on the Green (VOTG) – Dana, Menna, Anthony, Rose, Bob…too many wonderful people to mention and all the Amazing AIDS – (especially Pam, Bree & Destiny) too many to mention and Mitzy and other Doctors and assistances during her December visit at the Hospital.