William Caparella

He was preceded in death by his wife of 77 years, Flora (Pinti) Caparella and seven siblings, Nicola, Ernest, Luigi, Frank, Joseph, Viola D’Agostino, and Yolanda, who died in infancy.

Surviving William are his daughters, Victoria Caparella of Mechanicsburg, Cathy Hoffman of Dillsburg, and Patricia Nagel of Leadville, Colorado; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Wherley) Morris of Norman, Oklahoma, William Wherley of Portland, Oregon, and Maya Nagel and Gemma Nagel of Leadville, Colorado; and four great-grandchildren, Logan and Adam Morris, and Maddox and Quintin Wherley. He is also survived by his one remaining sibling, Lucy (Dolly) Bianchini of Harrisburg.

William grew up during the Great Depression in a South Harrisburg neighborhood called Shipoke. He would often say how impoverished his family was growing up at that time, but none of the kids knew it. They had a beautiful home and plenty of food to eat, thanks in large part to his parents’ agricultural skills and the large plot of land, which they were able to refine into a bountiful garden. His fond memories of his childhood home included homegrown entertainment, which involved having friends and family over for music and dancing in the spacious rooms of his beloved childhood home. He would play football in Riverfront Park and swim in the Susquehanna River. William’s mother passed away when he was 12 years old, which left a lasting effect on his spirit. His father passed away when he was 17 years old.

He graduated from John Harris (Harrisburg) High School. He worked construction at the Mechanicsburg Naval Depot immediately following graduation and then enlisted in the United States Navy where he became one of the first members of the newly formed Seabees, the Construction Battalion, in 1942. He trained with the Marines for combat at Camp Perry in Norfolk, VA. He was sent to the Aleutian Islands and spent much time at Dutch Harbor, Kiska and Attu. He fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II and more specifically, the Battle of Okinawa, where he and the SS John P. Gaines troop ship he was on both survived Japanese kamikaze attacks. One of his fondest memories while in the South Pacific was swimming in the Marianas Trench, Earth’s deepest part of the ocean. William was part of a group of veterans that were the first to fulfill military service and was honorably discharged as a Carpenter’s Mate Second Class, Seabees after nearly four years. Both he and his four brothers served in various branches of the military during World War II, and all returned home safely. After the war, he work on the Pennsylvania Railroad before settling on a 40+ long year career with Pennsylvania Power & Light Company.

During his life, he continued the family tradition of hosting dances at home, built the family home in which he lived and died, built both and organ and computer and taught himself how to use each.

William was a lifetime member at the Lawnton American Legion and was an icon for Pennsylvania Wounded Warrior, Inc., helping them raise money through golf tournaments and parades. His membership with the now Lower Allen VFW dates back almost 80 years to when it was located in Wormleysburg.

William’s many hobbies included spending time with his wife and family, reading, and staying active throughout his life with various sports, especially golf in his later years, photography and music.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday March 5, 2024, from 9:00am to 10:15am at the Neill Funeral Home, Inc., 3401 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA, 17011. A mass of Christian burial will be held at The Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 3435 East Trindle Rd, Camp Hill, PA, 17011, at 10:30am with a reception to follow in the church hall. Burial will take place at Indiantown Gap, National Cemetery, Annville, PA 17003, on March 5, 2024 at 1:30pm.