Bertha L. (Masse) Cappuccio passed away after a sudden illness Monday evening January 10, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was the wife of the late John S. Cappuccio with whom she shared 56 years of marriage.
Bertha, a life-long resident of Salem, was born on May 24, 1925 and was the daughter of the late Edmond and Bruna (Nadeau) Masse. She grew up in the Bridge Street area and attended St. Joseph’s school in Salem, graduating from the high school in 1943. After high school she worked at Sylvania in Salem until 1952. She devoted herself to her husband, six children and many nephews, nieces and grandchildren as well as helping her husband to run several local businesses over the years.
In her large extended family Bertha was the one that kept everyone connected by hosting many gatherings in her home, visiting and reaching out by phone. She was the one who came by when anyone was sick or just needed company. She sent notes and cards for all occasions, and kept a ready supply to insure their arrival on the correct date. Family and friends who got her cheery phone calls at least once a week, sometimes more, will sorely miss her. In recent years whenever the weather was bad, she would call all her adult children to make sure they were home and out of the storm.
In addition to raising her children she spent time with her wide circle of friends and relatives. Over the years she was a babysitter and a steady presence for her nephews John Tristan, Richard Roccio, David and Paul Masse, and David Cappuccio, and her four granddaughters. Hobbies also enriched her life. She loved to work in her garden and to be outdoors. Years ago she took night classes in painting and calligraphy producing her own special works of art. She was never far from her journals in which she wrote daily. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed her many books, especially those on Salem history. Bertha enjoyed adventures and outings around the North Shore with her many life-long friends, especially Lucille Blouin. When she moved to Bertram House on the Common 18 months ago her circle of friends enlarged again, and in her own words “had a ball” at all the parties and goings on there.
She is survived by her children Jane and her husband Rich Stauffer, Frank and his wife Lianne (Jastremski) Cappuccio, Bob Cappuccio and Linda Cappuccio, all of Salem, Susan and her husband Frank Rullo, of Salem New Hampshire and Nancy and her husband Bob Duda of Beverly. She is also survived by her four grandchildren Kristen Cappuccio, Stephanie and her husband Sean Lyons, Angela Rullo and Kim Rullo. Her brothers Leon Masse and his wife Jeannette of Salem, Bob and his wife Ann Masse of Topsfield and her sister-in-law Rosanna Masse of Danvers, her godsons David Cappuccio of North Plainfield New Jersey and Michael Cappuccio of Beverly also survive her, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister Jeannette Roccio and her brothers Wilfred and Henry Masse.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Rt. 114 / 1-A] Salem on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 10 a.m. to be followed by her funeral mass in Ste. Anne Church, Jefferson Ave., Salem at 11 a.m. Visiting hours: Friday 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Bertram House, 29 Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970 or Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923