Mary Frances Kapusta, a resident of Florence, died Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at EMC Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 16 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Florian. Father Jacob Amos, O.S.B. of St. Michael’s will celebrate the funeral Mass on August 16 at 3:30 p.m., following visitation. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery.
Mary Frances Cottle Kapusta was born on February 28, 1925, in Orange, Texas, daughter to Christopher Ernest Cottle and Laura Amelia Barden Cottle. She grew up and attended public schools in Orange. She went on to attend the Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton, Texas. She graduated in 1946 with a B.S. degree in Music, majoring in voice. While in college she served as treasurer and president of the Aglaian Music Club, participated in and directed the Winning Sing-Song Contest, and was a member of the Vocalaires, a student musical group that traveled throughout Texas entertaining armed service members at army camps, hospitals and colleges during World War II.
After graduation she taught English at Orange High School and took graduate courses in music in Boston, New York and Minneapolis. She also worked in real estate and taught piano in New Canaan, Conn..
Mary Frances married Edwin Chester Kapusta of Schenectady, N.Y., on September 9, 1949, in Orange, Texas. They would have celebrated their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary in September 2014. They had three children: Kathryn Anne, born August 16, 1950; Karl Edwin, born March 1, 1953; and John David, born November 18, 1954.
Mary Frances nurtured her longtime avid interest in liturgical music as a devoted member of the St. Michael’s Church family. She played an important role in developing the music program at St. Michael’s, serving as choir director and cantor for over two decades before health issues forced her to withdraw from the music program. In 2010, the church honored her with a plaque in appreciation for her many years of dedicated service to liturgical music. She had previously served for many years as choir director at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan, Conn., where her family lived prior to moving to Florence.
Mary Frances was active in St. Michael’s Altar Society, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Homemakers Club, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Wives Club and the National Alumnae Association of the Texas Woman’s University.
Mary Frances is survived by her husband, Edwin, of Florence; daughter, Kathryn, of Philadelphia; sons Karl, of Escondido, Calif., and J. David (Claire), of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; and grandchildren John (Katie), of New York, Thomas, of New York, and Kathryn, of Escondido, Calif..
Jay Kirby will serve as lector at the funeral Mass. Mass Pallbearers include Ralph Peters, Damien Simbeck, Tim McCluskey, Lawrence Stumpe, Charles Krieger, Billy Brink, Peter Curtice and Jerry Eckl.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Michael’s Church Development Fund (2751 County Road 30, Florence, Ala., 35634) or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America ((866) 232-8484).
Funeral arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.
