Rose M. Capen

Mystic - Rose M. Capen, 84, a Mystic resident since 1959, died after a brief illness on Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at her home.

Rose was born in Whately, Mass., on Sept. 7, 1921, to Aleck and Helen (Merski) Kowalski. Valedictorian of Hanover (Mass.) High School, class of 1939, Rose went on to attend the Chandler School in Boston, a private, professional training school for women established in 1883.

After working briefly as a private secretary, Rose married Weston in 1942, eloping to Weston, Mass. They moved to Connecticut when Wes began working for Electric Boat in Groton.

Rose often reminisced about working as a young woman in an upscale restaurant called Pembroke Pines in Massachusetts and later running a quaint ice cream shop in Scituate, Mass. After her children were older, Rose returned to the restaurant business, working first at Ted's Pizza in Mystic and later at Mystic Pizza. She ended her restaurant career at Rose's Chicken and Pizza of Groton. In the early 1980's Rose began working at the Mystic Seaport in the Maritime Graphics department where she became close friends with many of her fellow employees and the artists she worked with for 20 years.

A fine dancer who enjoyed big band music since her teens, Rose's greatest musical love was listening to Frank Sinatra whom she saw in concert more than a dozen times. She also enjoyed musicals and regularly attended the Garde Arts Center Broadway series. An unwavering fan of the Boston Red Sox, Rose was ecstatic in 2004 when the Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees and went on to sweep the St Louis Cardinals to win the World Series for the first time since 1918. She pursued her passion for the English language as an avid reader and skilled crossword puzzler. Rose was the victor of countless highly contested Scrabble games, and her competitive spirit was further fed as a member of several bowling leagues, when downtown Mystic still housed duckpin lanes.

Her home was originally situated on 52 New London Road, until it was moved in 1961 to allow the Mystic Hook & Ladder Fire Station to be built on the original site. In her new yard, Rose cultivated a number of annuals in a series of beautiful garden beds, gathering the seeds from the flowers each fall and planting them the next spring. There was generally at least one dog and one cat keeping her company as she worked.

She is survived by her older brother, Francis Kowalski of Braintree, Mass.

Rose will be especially missed by her son, David Capen and his wife, Pamela Capen, of Bel Air, Md., her daughter, traveling companion, and shopping buddy, Jody Capen and her husband, Joe St. Martin, with whom Rose shared her home in Mystic, her son, Mark Capen and his wife, Mary Wood, of Mystic, her son, Dennis Capen and his wife, Lesley Capen, of Hampstead, N.C., and her daughter, Carole Capen Kargher and her husband, Richard Kargher, of Middletown. She will also be deeply missed by her grandchildren, Margo Klein, David Capen Jr., Karen Capen, Jessica Capen, Alexis Capen, W. Gray Capen II, Nathaniel Kargher, and Deborah Kargher. Rose also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Sarah and Andrew Klein.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Weston G. Capen, her sons, John and Richard, her daughter, Deborah, and her younger sister, Zosia McGee.

Rose's warmth, kindness, and vibrant humor will be remembered by all who knew her. Her irrepressible passion for life, her earthy practicality, and her unyielding hope in the endless possibilities tomorrow holds are the legacy Rose has generously given to her family and loved ones.

Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, at Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, Mystic. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be at a later date.

Donations in her memory may be directed to Hospice Southeastern Connecticut, 179 Gallivan Lane, PO Box 902, Uncasville CT 06382-0902 or online at www.hospicesect.org/help/donate.html.

Rose's family invites you to visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com for obituary information, directions, and an online memorial register to leave a note of condolence.