MVCEF receives bequest from Capatch estate
The Moshannon Valley Community Education Foundation has been notified that Rose Marie Capatch, lifelong resident of Madera who passed away on July 2, 2013,has named the organization as a benefactor in her estate. Ms. Capatch, retired from the Philipsburg-Osceola School District after many years of service as a dedicated and loving kindergarten teacher. Her favorite saying to the young souls in her care was, ‘Be ye kind’. Monies are to be used to continue the quality of education for the students of the Moshannon Valley School District.
“We are forever grateful for the generosity of Mrs. Capatch. Her contribution to the Foundation will work to benefit numerous students for years to come here at Moshannon Valley,” said MVCEF President Kris Albright. “My hope is this will inspire other alumni and community members in a position to donate to give back to the school and our community. Mrs. Capatch had deep ties to our district, being a lifelong resident of this community, an alumni herself personally; not to mention the numerous family members and relatives that graduated from Moshannon Valley. For her to include the Foundation as a beneficiary, speaks volumes to her character, values and commitment to public education. We here at the Foundation and School District cannot begin to describe how fortunate we are to have received this contribution.”
Ms. Capatch was born in Madera on January 24, 1921 and was the youngest of 8 children to James F. and Ann Marie (Cornetto) Capatch. She graduated in 1938 from Bigler Township High School in Madera. Following graduation, she attended the Lock Haven Teachers College and received a degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Capatch began her career as a teacher at the Ramey Elementary School in the early 1940s. The Ramey school was a combined elementary-senior high building that went to 11th grade. In the late-1940s-early-1950s, students could attend through 8th grade only as upper level grades were transferred to other buildings. The building, which was constructed in 1893, closed in 1963 when the Moshannon Valley Jr.-Sr. High School building was constructed and elementary students were transferred to either the Houtzdale or Madera buildings. Following her short tenure at Ramey, Mrs. Capatch became employed as an elementary teacher in the Philipsburg area. Schools in the Philipsburg and Osceola areas and surrounding communities combined in 1955 to form the Philipsburg-Osceola School District. Mrs. Capatchretired from the Philipsburg-Osceola School District after 31 years of service as a teacher.
Ms. Capatch was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Madera, a member of the church Rosary and Altar Society, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Victoria’s Court #646, and served previously through the years as a lector for morning Mass in various Catholic churches in Madera, Ramey and Houtzdale. Ms. Capatch is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Madera. She was 92 years old at the time of her passing.
Ms. Capatch is survived by a daughter, Irene Goodsir and her husband, Steve; two grandchildren, Michelle and Steven Goodsir; a brother, P. William “Bill” Capatch of Madera and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers George, Victor and Anthony Capatch; three sisters, Angeline “Bobby” Gimmel, Theresa Romano and Jennie Dean.
In addition to the funds bequeathed to the Moshannon Valley Community Education Foundation, Ms. Capatch established a scholarship fund at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Her generous philanthropy will also assist the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind’s early childhood programs, the Missionaries of Charity Order of Mother Theresa in assisting those suffering with leprosy and the Association for Klinefelter Syndrome Information and Support network.