Name: Mass of Christian Burial for Maureen Helen Sapelli M.D.
Start: 2025-06-05T10:30:00.000Z
Location: St Gregory the Great Catholic Church

Maureen Helen Sapelli, M.D.

May 6, 1952 - May 4, 2025

Hardeeville, South Carolina - Maureen Helen (McDonald) Sapelli, MD, age 72, of Hardeeville, SC, formerly of Buckingham, Newtown, & Morrisville, PA, died May 4, 2025, in the ER of Hilton Head Hospital, with her devoted husband, Carl, by her side. Born in Trenton, NJ, May 6, 1952, to John James McDonald, Jr, & Mary Theresa Mikulas, both deceased. She was a devoted spouse to "her Carl" & loving step-mother, -grandmother, & -great-grandmother to Carl's family for 19 years.

Maureen grew up in Morrisville, PA. She excelled throughout her education, including post-graduate & doctoral studies. She will be remembered not only as a caring doctor but also for her generous spirit, loving nature, smile, generosity, & twinkling blue eyes. She was devoted to her family & friends. Her life story is best recounted in an interview by Reporter Lou Baldwin. (See bit.ly/maureensstory).

Maureen is survived by her spouse, Carl Francis Sapelli; stepmother, Pricilla McDonald; sister Kathleen (Joseph) Bascio; aunt Frances Lenhardt; many cousins; stepsons Michael (Elizabeth) & Christopher (JoAnne) Sapelli; grandchildren Dani (Roseanne), Rebekah, Rachel, Ciaran, Andrew, & Timothy Sapelli; great-grandchildren Gwendolyn & Eliana Sapelli; sister-in-law Ann Marie Sapelli; and cats Louie II & Georgie.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, John James McDonald III.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:30 a.m., St Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 31 Saint Gregory Dr, Bluffton, SC 29909.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

St Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 31 Saint Gregory Dr, Bluffton, SC 29909,.

Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. Church (Note: Love In Deed Service Ministry), 5194 Cold Spring Creamery Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902,.

Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or.

Any animal rescue (Maureen loved her cats).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Island Packet from Jun. 1 to Jun. 3, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Maureen Sapelli

3 Entries

Harold K. Gever MD

August 6, 2025

Maureen and I were residents together at Temple Hospital.
It was here that Maureen first experienced her symptoms of her connective tissue disorder. Despite running nocturnal fevers well above 100 every night, Maureen remarkably kept pace with a workload demanding nearly 100 hours/week and every 3rd night on call!

When I announced my marriage by the end of our third year, Maureen lovingly knitted me a beautiful afghan as a wedding present, one which I hold dear to this day.

Because she was such a talented and caring physician, Maureen tried to continue her career. I managed to find openings for her at various HMO companies where I worked, but health issues ultimately forced her out of practice.

Not to be kept down, Maureen decided to devote her life and energies to her religion. I can only imagine how wonderful her contributions proved to be.

When I didn´t receive her holiday card this year, I knew something was wrong, but I also knew that-like her cats-Maureen had at least 9 lives.

I am so saddened by this news, but I know how much she suffered-probably more than she let on to anyone around her.

I will treasure her memory always.

Harold K.Gever MD

Mary & Sean

June 18, 2025

Maureen was a beloved member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
She was the first leader of our Caring Ministry, and her heart and smile seemed to grow along with the increasing needs.
No one was turned away because Maureen always had the will and somehow found the way.
Just when you thought she couldn´t do anymore, there she was happily sitting at the Blood Drive table with Carl always at her side.
Maureen was the Florence Nightingale of our parish, and will never be forgotten, RIP.

Ann Sapelli

June 11, 2025

So sorry for your loss, Maureen was a very gracious lady.

deepest sympathy

Ann

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