Alva A. Capuano

While it is difficult to put this down into words, Alva must’ve known the words she wanted to use to comfort us and this simple line was cut out and left in a small heart shaped box beside her bed.

Alva Ann Capuano died on Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Manhattan. She was 64 years old. She was born the youngest of 5 children on March 16, 1958 in New York City to George and Jeanne Meade. In 1980 she married her loving husband of 42 years, Richard, and together they had two children, Patty and Tim.

She was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was always the first to offer help to everyone around her and selflessly cared for those she loved. Her kind, generous and loving personality was contagious. Alva was a stubborn fighter, receiving both pancreas and kidney transplants and battling a number of challenging medical conditions throughout her life. In spite of it all, she had tremendous strength and courage, doing everything in her power to stay with us for as long as she possibly could.

She cared deeply for her family and her proudest moments were watching her children grow and have children of their own. Nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her family and friends, especially her 4 grandchildren to whom she was affectionately known as “Manna”.

Alva is survived by her husband, Richard, her children Patty (Rob) and Tim (Bekka), 4 grandchildren, Lauren, Liam, Emily and Caroline, her siblings, Kathy, Peter and Patty, as well as her brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, trusted 4 legged companion, Baron, and countless extended family members and friends that she touched during her life. She is predeceased by and now in the company of her parents, George and Jeanne, her brother, Christopher, and brother-in-law, Bill, as well as Richard’s parents, Pasquale and Ann Marie, and brother, James, and her beloved dog, Patches.

Even in death, Alva wanted to pass on the gift of life, just as she had received it. She remained on a ventilator until July 9 in order to participate in a clinical research trial led by the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. The objective of the trial is to advance the field of xenotransplantation closer to realizing a new supply of organs for those facing life-threatening disease. It is expected that one day her contributions to this research will lead to saving thousands of more lives.

A funeral mass to celebrate her life will be held on September 10, 2022 at 1:30pm at the Church of St. Francis Xavier, located at 46 West 16th St, New York, NY 10011

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alva’s name to:

NYU Langone: https://nyulangone.org/give/fundraise/alvacapuano

LiveOnNY Foundation: www.liveonny.org

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org