Dora Kasperitis

Dora “Dee” Gregory Kasperitis, age 79, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones in her son’s home on March 16, 2022.

Born in Philadelphia, the second child and first daughter of Paul and Dora Gregory, Dee Kasperitis started her beautiful life on April 1, 1942.

She graduated from Dobbins Technical High School in 1960, where she developed her talents in art and sewing, participated in the drama club, and played the piano.

She married the late Robert Kasperitis, raised their children in Levittown, PA, and later moved to Texas.

For many years she worked as bookkeeper, accountant, and office manager and retired in 2011. Her last employment was at St. Mary’s Church in Cleveland, TX, where she was a Eucharistic Minister and active in her Catholic faith.

Dee was proud to earn her private pilot’s license and she joined the Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots, an international sisterhood (founded by Amelia Earhart) of licensed women pilots who love to fly for fun. She enjoyed taking family and friends for joy rides in small planes and participating in charity events with this organization.

To hang on to her Philadelphia roots, Dee remained an avid Phillies fan and loved to watch and cheer for her hometown baseball team.

She was well known as an organizer for Team St. Mary’s in the annual Relay for Life. She loved the challenge of creating original themes and decorations, inviting friends and family to participate, and fundraising for a charity close to her heart.

As an accomplished seamstress, her family will always treasure the exquisite Baptismal garments, beautiful dresses, and other lovely handmade gifts she created throughout the years. She had a sharp eye for the little details of every project, and her handiwork was truly stunning.

She was fiercely independent and hardworking, just a few of the strong values that she instilled in all her children. She will always be remembered for her love of the ocean and the beach, hummingbirds and birdhouses, flowers and floral prints, black jellybeans and licorice, and her award-winning apple pie and other special recipes for dishes that Mom made best.

In addition to her parents and late husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Patti- Jane (Gregory) Reeves and her daughter, Nicole Gibbons.

She is survived by two brothers; Jay Gregory and Gene Gregory and two sisters; Janice Hoffman and Jo-Ann Gregory.

Dee was a proud mother and will be missed beyond measure by her children and their spouses, Brian Kasperitis of Kingwood, TX, Patrick Kasperitis and Silvia Galvan of Corpus Christi, Tx, Kevin Kasperitis and Michael Corum of Anthony, New Mexico, Colleen and David Hagen of Nampa, ID, Sean and Roberta Kasperitis of Shepherd, Tx, Kelly and John Pinkerton of El Paso, TX, and Paula and Verlon Smith of Austin, TX.

She was a cherished MeMom to her 12 grandchildren and their spouses and 4 great grandchildren: Megan Kasperitis (Brianna), Dillon and Rachel Kasperitis, Patrick Kasperitis, Jr and fiancée Aubrey Fuller (Willa), Kaitie Kasperitis, Kimmie Kasperitis, Alycia Marie Kasperitis, Paul Kasperitis, Molly Hagen, Justin Kasperitis (Madelyn, Jensen), Lyndee Pinkerton, Cobey Smith, and Annalise Smith. Her sweet, little Yorkie Stitch will miss her, too.

Mom, you told us that our memories are your heaven. We will always remember your love for us, for sunshine, and for longing to be near the ocean, and you would say, “There’s a beach with my name on it!” We know you’ve found your forever beach, and as you bask in the sunshine with your toes in the sand, our loving thoughts and memories will be with you, like the tide, forever flowing.

An 80th Birthday and Celebration of Life gathering will be held on April 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM at the Rio Valley Estates clubhouse (6161 Doniphan Dr., El Paso, TX 79932).

The Rosary followed by a funeral Mass will be held on April 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (702 E. Houston St., Cleveland, TX 77328).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Mary’s Altar Society or the St. Mary’s Relay for Life team.