Beatrice Caponecchia

Beatrice Caponecchia

1930-2009

Beatrice Ann Caponecchia passed away on January 11, 2009, of natural causes, at age 78. She was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on August 23, 1930, to Salvatore and Cecilia (Folcarelli) Caponecchia. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, and she graduated from Edwin Denby High School in 1948. In 1951, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became one of the few top-level female cryptographers during the Korean War. In 1952, she married Gerald F. Wojcik. They divorced in 1993.

Bea graduated from Wayne State University in 1960 with a Bachelor?s degree in Library Science. She was the first member of her family to go to college. While she attended college she had two children, Daniel Noel, in 1955, and James Robert, in 1959. In 1960, she and her family moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1971, she received a Master?s degree in Library Science from the University of Southern California. During this time she worked as a children?s librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library and later became a regional children?s librarian in the San Fernando Valley. Bea was known for her storytelling skills, use of puppetry, and teaching abilities. After 22 years as a librarian she retired and moved to Sarasota, Florida, later relocating to Eugene, Oregon.

Throughout her life Bea enjoyed poetry, literature, and film. She was a published poet and short story writer. She was interested in art, science, history, spirituality, and music, and she loved opera. She travelled throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and took pleasure in learning about other cultures. She was enthusiastic about ancient Italian history and culture, and was recently researching Etruscan and other pre-Roman tribal groups in Italy. Her delicate holiday pizzelle waffles were considered the best in the world by family members.

Bea was an authority on children?s literature, and was up on current events, politics, contemporary literature, and film. An avid gardener, she had a green thumb and created exotic and vibrant flower gardens. She was a loving mother and always supportive of her family. Bea was a uniquely creative and independent woman, who truly helped and inspired those that knew her. She is survived by her two sons, Daniel Wojcik, of Eugene, Oregon, and James Wojcik, of New York City, her daughters-in-law, Viasha Wojcik and Marianne Diorio, her grandchildren, Konrad and Tiki, and five siblings, Lucy, Jenny, Minnie, Irene, and Louis.

The family will have a celebration of Bea?s life during the Memorial Day weekend, in Eugene, Oregon. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Relief Nursery (an organization that helps at-risk children and families), or to the Friends of Hendricks Park?Rhododendron Garden, Eugene, Oregon. Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy