Arthur Capetola

On December 16, 2024, of Washington Twp. Age 96. Beloved husband of the late Frances (nee Patitucci). Devoted father of Joan Casta (the late Fred) and Dina Devine (Joe). Loving grandfather of Makenzie D’Angelo (Chris) and Olivia Dunn (Christopher). Proud great-grandfather of Landon, Sawyer, Sydney, and Juniper. Dear brother of Jeanette Damiano, the late Marie Cocca and brother-in-law to Joyce Patitucci.  Cherished and “adopted” parent and friend of Paul and Sandy Synnamon.

Art was a loving husband to his wife, Fran, for seventy-three years. Together they built a life full of love, faith, hard work, and lasting friendships. It included music in the entertainment business, politics and most importantly family!

They both were the host and hostess for so many family occasions for both sides of their families, as well as the confidant for many of them whenever challenges arrived. He was equally as proud of his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law on both sides of their families as he was his own siblings. He loved spending time with them either at the shore, at family functions or dinner and dancing on Saturday nights.

Way before it was a popular term Art was the best ‘girl’s dad’ to his daughters Joni and Dina. There was nothing that he wouldn’t do for them and no problem he couldn’t solve. He was their hero! His easy nature and great sense of humor made it easy for his sons-in-law to feel more like sons and later friends in his life.

Grandpop was probably his favorite title. He couldn’t have been prouder of his two granddaughters and then later their husbands, his grandsons. When the next generation of great grandchildren came along, his title was Grandpop Art. He loved each of them and they certainly loved him back. He was a playful loving partner, one who they understood needed some help now and then. Art was the rock of his family. He was wise, patient, steady and strong. Always ready to help or guide in the most unassuming way. He was a true gentleman, leaving everyone better off for having known him!

Art enjoyed both singing and listening to music, and was never too shy to perform, even if he did not know the words. He and Fran loved their years involved with the entertainment industry and shared a real appreciation for talented artists. Art loved to tell stories of those days, replaying all the rich memories! He constantly played every one of his daughter Joni’s recordings and loved to google her songs. He did the same with his granddaughter Olivia, as well.

He loved to constantly learn new things about life and was always proud and present to support his daughter Dina and granddaughter Makenzie in their careers as educators. He was the first to come to the school for events and special activities in the classroom. He was an avid reader of the daily newspaper. He even had a digital subscription for a few years, until his macular degeneration prevented him from seeing the text. Art was a wizard with numbers and could solve math problems easily with his sharp mind, which he did to the very end.

Art’s legacy of 96 years spans from his early years in Philadelphia to his later years in South Jersey. While he loved to share early stories of his many jobs as a teen and younger man, it was his role as Director of Maintenance at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, of which he was most proud. Even recently he would say I really loved that job. During those years he gained long-term friends and an up-close view of the ever-changing growth in the city he grew up in as a child and loved!

After retirement he and Fran relocated to Washington Township to be close to their family. It was then that his next public works chapter began, filling multiple roles such as a property inspector. Art enjoyed this role, met so many new people and of course he and Fran were entrenched in politics, again. It was their passion as a couple. It kept him young in spirit in many ways. He retired from this second career at the age of 81. And it was a tribute to him that he forged long lasting relationships with his younger colleagues. They would come and have lunch with him frequently. He loved those luncheons and he, and we, were grateful for his ongoing friendships.

He also loved the Jersey shore. He spent many summers in Wildwood before eventually buying a home in Margate, which he and Fran enjoyed entertaining family and friends. His love for the shore continued over many summers. He loved spending time at his daughter’s home in Margate sitting on the porch for hours, listening to his favorite music, singing loudly, waiting for the grandchildren and great grandkids to come back from the beach and talking to the younger neighbors.

“One of the best things about friendship is that age doesn’t matter.” This perfectly explains why Art, together with Fran, had friends in multiple age groups. Art always believed it helped him remain truly “young at heart.”

Art will leave a legacy of love, friendship, commitment, and dedication to those he loved and to the communities where he lived. He will be missed by many and would want people to love life by carrying on with the values in which he lived. That is what made his 96 years of life so remarkable.

Family and friends are welcome to attend his viewing Saturday, December 21^st 8:30 – 10:30 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM at SS. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church, 362 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Entombment All Saints Cemetery, Newfield.

Donations can be made to

Wills Eye Foundation  Macular Degeneration

In honor of Arthur Capetola

By Mail

Wills Eye Foundation
840 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Online

www.willseye.org/giving/give-now/

Select Macular Degeneration under Gift Designation Section