MARY HELEN KAPEC

August 17, 1926 – November 30. 2022

Mary Helen Kapec, age 96, died Wednesday evening November 30, 2022 at USC Arcadia Hospital with her
loving daughter Nancy by her side.
Mary, the daughter of Andrew and Annie (Fraykor) Ohrin (Hurin or Ondrya) was born in Kelayres, Pennsylvania
on August 17, 1926. She grew up as a coal miner’s daughter in Audenried, PA. Her mother immigrated from
Usfalva, Austria. Mary was a graduate of Hazelton High School.
Mary met the love of her life, Joseph Edward Kapec, at St. Mary’s Slovak Roman Catholic Church in McAdoo,
PA. Their dating was interrupted for several years by WWII. After Joseph returned from Germany as a WW II
Staff Sergeant with the 3 rd Armored Division, they were united in marriage on May 8, 1948. Joseph passed
away on September 26, 2018 subsequent to their celebration of 70 years of marriage.
After getting married, Joseph and Mary moved to New Jersey. In 1959, they purchased a house in Rahway and
raised their two daughters Karen Marie (born 5/30/1954) and Nancy Ann (born 5/31/1958). The family was a
member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Rahway N.J. for over 30 years. Mary worked for 25 years as a
Manager at Pathmark Stores in Linden N.J. retiring in September 1990.
Subsequent to retirement, Mary and Joseph moved to Spring Hill, Florida where they lived for 27 years. In
Florida, they continued to actively participate in Square Dancing which took them all over the US for National
Conventions. During their time in Spring Hill they were active parishioners at Saint Theresa Catholic Church.
After Joseph’s major auto accident, their daughter Nancy moved them to California in 2017. They spent their
final years living at The Kensington Sierra Madre, CA.



After Nancy and I started dating I was always hanging around the Kapec residence in Rahway NJ.  Their home was only 20 houses or 4 tenths of a mile away from my house .  Mr. K quickly christened me Tarzan.  One of my favorite memories of Mr. K came from my first Christmas with Nancy where he presented me with a horribly wrapped gift.  Mrs. K and Nancy appeared to be quite perplexed as to what his surprise gift was.  It turns out that he got iron on stickers out of the newspaper and ironed them on to plain white t shirts. It said “Me Tarzan You Jane”.  At this point I learned a secret about Mr. K, which is he really never used an iron as there was a huge scorch mark on the T Shirt he gave me.  Over the years the scorch mark turned into a hole and got bigger and bigger, but I kept that white t-shirt for over 20 years until it literally fell apart.  It seems that those little genuine thoughtful gestures are the ones you always remember.

Joe was my Godfather.  We spent every Christmas as a child going to his house.  Down in his basement were the best trains I ever seen.  Tunnels, mountains.  lakes.  Cattle cars.  Coal cars. He would run them for us for as long as we wanted.  I will never forget you Uncle Joe......every Christmas , every train I see.  As Bob Hope said.  THANKS for the memories.   You will be missed but not forgotten.         Kathleen

OBITUARY

Joseph Edward Kapec

April 11, 1925 – September 26, 2018

Turner & Stevens Live Oak Mortuary & Memorial Park

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