Obituary of Dr. Joanne E. Kapp

Dr. Joanne Kapp of Latham, entered our Lord's arms on July 28, 2022 at home, surrounded by her loved ones after a strong battle with a long-term illness. Better known as "Zsa", "Jo-A" or Dr. Kapp, Joanne was a person of pure love and true faith. She loved fiercely without limits and wouldn't think twice about literally giving you the shirt off her back. She was, without doubt, one of a kind. Dr. Kapp graduated from Shaker High School and furthered her studies at Russell Sage College and RPI, earning her PhD in Business. After working for a short period at GE in Schenectady, Dr. Kapp took her love of education, knowledge and teaching to the classroom, as a tenured doctoral professor at Siena College. Dr. Kapp devoted 37 years to her students. HER "kids" at Siena were her life and she wanted nothing more than to see them succeed. She truly loved each and every one of you. She talked fondly of her past students whom she would run into in the business world, and boasted about them with beaming pride. She sure made an impact on thousands of minds and hoped to pass along one most important virtue…. don't be absent. "As long as you are here, you are learning. And this is most important in the world of business". Joanne will always be remembered as "Jo-A" to her closest cousins, aunts, and uncles. And boy was she blessed with many! Coming from two big Maplewood families, she was the only child of Peter Kapitula and Elizabeth (Betty) Jupin Kapitula. She was their world, as they were hers. She often spoke about how much she missed them and prayed about the day she would be reunited with them. Her peaceful passing leaves us convinced they were the first ones in line waiting to welcome her home. Jo-A is survived by many first cousins, Mary Ann Dame Rentz, Alica Jupin Morrison, Robert (Janice) Rentz, Greg and Diane Rentz, Jack Shewczyk, Peter (Joan) Mokay, Linda Sue (Dominick) Troiano, Linda Ann (Dr.William) Kostun, Paul Shewczyk, Alan (Kathy) Mokay, her dear God Daughter, Paula Phipps Mokay, Kathy, Kim, Karen, and Letty Spiak, Cindy (Rocco) Varacchi, Debbie (Tom) Bendon, and Tammy (Bob) Derico. She was predeceased by her cousins Phillip Mokay, David Bruce Wasilenko, Father Alan Jupin, David William Shewczyk, Walter and Nora Spiak as well as many aunts and uncles, whom she loved until her last breath. Joanne's younger cousins referred to her as "Zsa". There are too many to name individually, but they have all shared precious memories and experiences with her that will stay in their hearts for a lifetime. Her most prized person in life was her cousin, Kristy Rentz-Curley, who was the creator of the name "Zsa", a lot of years ago. Blessed to have had 40+ years with Kristy, her husband Brian (Curley), and their daughters, Kamryn (Breah) and Kaydence were the highlight of her later years and the meaning of her happiness. We are all so forever blessed by the love and loyalty you have shown us. There are too many memories to share so we will hold them in our hearts, forever with OUR Zsa. We all know her beautiful smile and open arms will be among the first ones we see when we meet again.