The Rev. Mary M. Kapper

The Rev. Mary M. Kapper died on November 25, 2011. She was 86 years old. Rev. Kapper was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 11, 1925 to Willard B. and Genevieve (Brady) Kapper. She graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 1947, and attained her Masters of Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in 1978. She received her Masters of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1988.

Rev. Kapper was ordained by the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists on May 14, 1989. She was called to serve the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato and the Nora Unitarian Universalist Church in Hanska from 1990-1991. She was a community minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley from 1991-2001. She also served as a hospice chaplain for Pathways Hospice and Home Health in Oakland, CA. In 2002, Rev. Kapper became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron and served as the church’s Social Justice Chair from 2006-2007.

Rev. Kapper was involved in many social causes, working tirelessly to promote the civil rights of women and minorities. She helped to establish Akron Women Against Rape in 1974.

Rev. Kapper is survived by her son, John Barry and his wife, Rosemary; her son, Tom Barry; her son, James Barry; her daughter, Mary Ann Seiberling; her son, Matthew Barry and his fiancé, Chris; her son, Daniel Barry; her daughter, Jeannine Marks and her husband, Steve; her daughter, Maureen Rocha and her husband, Rodrigo; ten grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren.

Rev. Kapper was preceded in death by a son, Mark Barry; and a daughter, Claire Simpson.

Family and friends paid their respects to the memory of Rev. Kapper on November 30, 2011 at Fairlawn West United Church of Christ in Akron, OH. Donations in Rev. Kapper’s memory may be made to Summa Hospice and Pallative Care Center, Founda- tion Office, P.O. Box 2090, Akron, OH 44398-6453.